Nemo Link, a joint venture between TSO's National Grid and Elia, has awarded contracts worth €500 million for the construction of the first electricity interconnector between the UK and Belgium.
J-Power Systems and Siemens will design and deliver the converter stations and HVDC XLPE cable system for the 140 km-long, 1000 MW link, which is being built to improve energy security for both countries and support the integration of renewable energy in Europe.
Siemens will build the converter stations in Kent and Zeebrugge using its HVDC Plus technology. J-Power will design, manufacture and install the cable system.
The project will mark the first use of XLPE cable as a high voltage direct current link at 400 kV, National Grid said in a statement. "The use of this state-of-the-art cable technology allied to the very efficient converter stations will make Nemo Link the most innovative interconnector in Europe, bringing new supplies of competitively-priced electricity to the market," said Alan Foster, Nemo Link board member.
Engineering design and site preparation work is due to begin later his year. The link is scheduled to start operating in 2019.
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