AQUIND Interconnector

The AQUIND Interconnector is a proposed HVDC submarine power cable between France and England. [1] [2]

AQUIND Interconnector[1]
Location
CountryFrance, United Kingdom
General directionnorth-south
FromFrance
Passes throughEnglish Channel
ToEngland
Technical information
Typesubmarine cable
Type of currentHVDC
Power rating2000 MW
DC voltage320kV

Route

The cable will run between the Lovedean substation in Hampshire in England to the Barnabos substation in the Normandy region of France.[1][2] Landfall is proposed at Eastney in Portsmouth (UK), and Le Havre (France). The route is 242km long, with 187km under the sea, 25km on land in the UK and 30km on land in France.[1]

Specification

The HVDC link will consist of four main cables, together with two much thinner fibre optic cables for operational control and communications.[1] HVDC involves lower transmission losses than the conventional alternating current (AC) technology used in most existing electricity networks. Land cables will be laid mainly under existing roads to minimize the environmental impact of the development. The link will be built as two separate 1000MW circuits, each with their own control and protection systems and auxiliary power supplies.[2] The DC circuits will run at 320kV DC, and operate as symmetrical monopoles.[1] The project is expected to cost £1.1Bn GBP.[1]

Project Status

The project is currently (Jan 2020) in the early planning stage.[1]

History

In Nov 2019, Aquind submitted a formal planning application for the link in the UK.[3]

In July 2019, Portsmouth council formally objected to the plans, on the grounds that it would cause unacceptable disruption in an intensively built-up area.[4]

Between February and April 2019, the company undertook a statutory consultation exercise.[5]

Significance

Interconnectors increase competition in energy markets by enabling cross-border access to electricity producers and consumers. They are already used to secure the energy supply [6][7][8] and manage peak demand. The UK has been importing around 5% of its energy supply from France since 1986 with interconnectors owned by National Grid plc.[9] Aquind expects to deliver up to 2GW of electricity by the end of 2022. The supply is enough to power up to 4 million homes.[10] Interconnectors help integrate more electricity generated from renewable sources,[11] such as wind and solar, in order to reduce the use of fossil fuel power plants and CO2 emissions. Interconnectors aid adaptation to changing demand patterns such as the uptake of electric vehicles.

References
  1. "AQUIND Interconnector". 4Coffshore. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  2. "AQUIND Interconnector". Aquind. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. "Cross-Channel £1.1bn electricity link plan submitted by Aquind". BBC News - Hampshire. BBC. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  4. "Council deals interconnector firm blow after opposing plans for cables from France to Portsmouth". portsmouth.co.uk. The News. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. "AQUIND launches statutory consultation on proposals for AQUIND Interconnector". Aquind Consultation. Aquind. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  6. Brexit in a blaze of no-deal glory would leave the climate, consumers and the Tories worse off, www.telegraph.co.uk
  7. Aquind Director, Richard Glasspool, has recently given an interview to a BBC programme, aquind.co.uk
  8. Why Europe needs more electricity interconnectors, public and private, www.euractiv.com
  9. Aquind confident on $1.4 billion France-UK power link despite Brexit, uk.reuters.com
  10. UK to double French energy supplies with new cable, www.bbc.com
  11. GB/France : un projet d’interconnexion dans les tuyaux... de la justice, www.lemondedelenergie.com
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