HVDC Interconnectors

[dan_b]

News

Vikinglink has been officially put into commercial service as of today, initially at half capacity until grid reinforcements are complete on the other side.

Need to see this on the grid monitoring websites now…

[GarethC]

Already on iamkate!

[dan_b]

Aah yes - Iamkate is the most up to date - none of the others show it yet

[Adokforme]

Interestingly it's showing 1.4 GW coming in too.

[dan_b]

Don't mix up Denmark with Norway!

[smegal]

Aah yes - Iamkate is the most up to date - none of the others show it yet

It's on Gridwatch now.

https://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

[dan_b]

So this is the current state of play

In service - 10.2GW max
France 4.4GW
IFA1 - 2GW
IFA2 - 1.4GW
Eleclink - 1GW

Northern Ireland - Moyle - 0.5GW
Republic of Ireland - E-W - 0.5GW
Netherlands- Britned - 1GW
Belgium - Nemolink - 1GW
Norway - NSLlink - 1.4GW
Denmark - Vikinglink - 1.4GW (albeit at half power for the next year at least)

In development - 6.3GW
Ireland - Greenlink - 0.5GW - construction in progress, delays until 2025
Germany - Neuconnect - 1.4GW - cable manufacturing started, scheduled for 2026
France - F(A)B Link - 1.2GW - significant planning delays and technical changes, delayed until 2030 earliest
Belgium - Nautlius Link - 1.4GW - initial surveys underway, completion not before 2030
Netherlands - Eurolink - 1.6GW - may now be re-configured as a "hybrid" DC offshore windfarm connection, not before 2030

Status unknown - 2GW
France- AQUIND - 2GW. Had previously been killed off by planning refusal, now potentially undergoing a re-birth
Iceland - ICElink - 1.8GW - not heard of since 2019 but huge opposition in Iceland

Cancelled - 2.8GW
Norway - Northconnect - 1.4GW - rejected by Norwegian Energy Regulator in 2020
France - GridLink - 1.4GW - rejected by French Energy Regulator in 2022

[Mart]

Hi Dan. I don't think this should be included, as its barely past concept stage, but perhaps a cheeky mention of the Morrocco to UK proposal.

Not sure if it counts as a conventional interconnector, as it's really a one way power supply, with purpose built wind, PV and storage. Constant daytime supply, with reduced levels overnight.

It's 3.6GW, made up of two 1.8GW cables. Government is fast tracking it (for consideration), but it will all come down to the CfD price, and whether one can be agreed.

The scheme is looking for a CfD of ~£60/MWh using the 2012 baseline (~£85/MWh in todays money) for 25yrs, which is higher than the last on-shore wind and PV CfD's, but this scheme has built in storage/consistency.

At 3.6GW, it sort of compares well to HPC which is 3.2GW. HPC is getting a 35yr CfD of £89.50/MWh (£128/MWh in todays money).


I love the idea, think the suggested costs are reasonable, and have my fingers crossed. But to be honest, I'm not yet convinced it will happen, I'm probably around 30:70 on the odds. Hope I'm wrong.

[dan_b]

Yeah that's an interesting/tricky one - it's almost like it's a "private wire" connection to a gigantic off-shore power station rather than a two-way interconnector, but given the distance it can only be done via HVDC.

Octopus Energy is one of the investors apparently - so maybe it is more than just vaporware.

[GarethC]

About 2300 miles, am I right? How does that compare to longest existing interconnector?