NeuConnect, the company behind the £2.4bn UK to Germany subsea interconnector, has reached a significant milestone by signing a license agreement with The Crown Estate. This agreement marks the beginning of construction in the UK, set to commence within weeks. The collaborative negotiations with The Crown Estate have paved the way for NeuConnect to start offshore and seabed works in the UK. This will establish the first direct power link between the two countries.
Arnaud Grévoz, the CEO of NeuConnect, expressed his satisfaction with the license agreement. He also stated that it is a crucial step forward for the company. Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of The Crown Estate’s support and collaboration throughout the process. With the agreement secured, NeuConnect is prepared to embark on significant construction activities this summer.
The Project’s Cost
The interconnector project has an estimated cost of £2.4bn. It will enable the transmission of up to 1.4GW of electricity between the UK and Germany in either direction. Spanning approximately 725km, the initiative is considered one of the world’s largest planned interconnectors. It will thus create an “invisible energy highway.”
The construction of the UK-Germany subsea interconnector will involve laying land and subsea cables, connecting converter stations on the Isle of Grain in Kent and the Wilhelmshaven region in northern Germany, and passing through British, Dutch, and German waters. The signing of the license agreement permits the project to commence significant construction work on both the offshore and onshore areas of the Isle of Grain site in the UK.
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Construction of the UK-Germany Subsea Interconnector
Construction in Germany is scheduled to begin in early 2024, with the interconnector expected to become operational in five years. To minimise disruptions, the initial work in the UK will involve horizontal direction drilling. This technique will be utilised at the landfall site, where the subsea cables transition to the onshore underground cables. In addition, archaeological investigations on the Isle of Grain will take place this year, along with earthworks, to prepare the converter station site.
Manufacturing of UK onshore cabling will commence next year, alongside installing offshore cabling. Piling works will also begin at the UK converter station site, followed by the station’s construction. The installation of UK onshore cabling is planned for 2025, with an anticipated completion date in 2026. The offshore cable installation will be finalised in 2027. Later, it will be followed by system-wide testing and trial operations leading to the commercial launch in 2028.
