The National Grid has announced that the Nemo Link interconnector between Belgium and the UK has now been switched on and entered commercial operation. The 1 GW subsea cable reaches the 130 km (80 miles) distance from Herdersbrug on the Belgian coast to Richborough in Kent, UK.
The energy link will enhance security of supply on both sides of the North Sea and allow a greater flow of clean energy between the UK and mainland Europe. A 50:50 joint venture between the UK National Grid and Belgian system operator Elia, Nemo Link cost around £560 million to construct and is Britain’s first new electricity interconnector since 2011.
To connect Nemo to the National Grid, a £200 million, 20 km (12.5 mile) overhead power line was constructed between Richborough and Canterbury.
Nemo is one of four links being built by National Grid. Photo: Pieter Clicteur/Siemens
Although the link was built with the idea of the UK mostly importing electricity, it will also provide a short-term boost to Belgium. This winter, 6 of the 7 nuclear plants in the country are undergoing repairs and safety checks.
“Interconnectors like Nemo Link are the perfect tool to move renewable energy from where it is produced to where it is needed most” said National Grid chief executive John Pettigrew.
“By connecting the UK and Belgian electricity markets, we will also ensure customers have access to different sources of generation and lower priced electricity. This will mean that customers pay less for their energy.”
Nemo is the first of four interconnector projects that the National Grid has invested in under the cap and floor regulation, representing a collective total of £2.1 billion.
The 1,000 MW IFA2 project to France and the 1,400 NW North Sea Link to Norway are currently under construction and projected to be in operation in 2021 and 2022 respectively. A 1,400 MW Viking Link to Denmark will begin construction later this year.
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