• National Grid and Elia System Operator sign joint venture agreement to build interconnector
• Energy secretary says it will bring secure energy at lowest cost for bill payers
• 140 kilometres cables will be the first electrcity link between GB and Belgium


Friday 27 February 2015

National Grid and Elia , the Belgian electricity  transmission system operator, will today sign a joint venture agreement to move ahead with the Nemo Link  - the first electricity interconnector between the two countries.

When completed the interconnector will provide 1000 MW of capacity - enough to power half a million homes.  The link  will run 140 kilometres between Richborough on the Kent coast and Herdersbrug, near Zeebrugge with a combination of undersea and underground cables.  Electricity will flow in either direction between the two countries. 

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: 

"Better electricity links to our neighbours help to guarantee our energy security at the lowest possible cost to billpayers and means we can use renewable electricity more effectively, allowing excess generation to be exported. This new interconnector will increase the amount of capacity available through interconnectors by 25%. 

"Nemo Link is not only an important interconnector in its own right, it also demonstrates that the new 'cap and floor' regime can help support new investment while protecting consumers." 

Steve Holliday, Chief Executive of National Grid said 

"Interconnectors have an increasingly important role to play in making sure both countries have security of supply and in helping to lower wholesale prices for consumers.  It's a great achievement for the project to have reached  this stage and I'm confident that  everyone involved in the joint venture will work hard to deliver the interconnector by 2019". 

Francois Cornelis, Chief Executive of Elia said 

"Building high-capacity lines, interconnecting grids and fostering mutual Member States support are of utmost importance, not only to help Belgium reaching adequacy between generation and demand but also to make the electricity market competition a reality in Europe" 

Nemo Link will  provide a third interconnector between UK and Europe, helping to further integrate the Europe-wide internal energy market. A 2000 MW link to France and 1000 MW link to the Netherlands are already in operation. Being at the crossroads between electricity markets in Western and Eastern Europe, the Belgian grid is currently able to import 3500 MW of capacity and plans an additional 1000MW interconnection with Germany. 

 Subject to finalising suitable deals, Nemo Link will be announcing contracts for the construction of the converter stations and cable laying.  Engineering design work and site preparation should begin later in the year. It's anticipated that Nemo Link will go into commercial operation in 2019. 

Ends


Contact for media information only:

Isobel Rowley

Senior Press Officer

www.nationalgridmedia.com/

 ( Ext:   +44 (0)1926 655275 

(Mob: +44 (07917 211116

Out of hours 0845 366 6769


For Elia System Operator

Barbara Verhaegen - Communication Manager

(Ext:+3225467378 (977378)

(Mob: +32473653947


To find out more about Nemo Link

To read more about the benefits of interconnectors

Notes to Editors:
National Grid is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world and has been named Responsible Business of the Year 2014 by Business in the Community. We own and manage the grids that connect people to the energy they need, from whatever the source.  In Britain and the north-eastern states of the US we run systems that deliver gas and electricity to millions of people, businesses and communities.

Elia is the Transmission System Operator in Belgium. It efficiently, reliably and securely transmits electricity from generators to distribution system operators and major industrial consumers, while also importing and exporting electricity from and to neighbouring countries. Elia forms with 50HZ, one of the German Transmission System Operator, the Elia Group. The Elia Group is in the top 5 players in the European TSO business. 

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