NeuConnect

The main construction phase started in 2023.{{cite web |title=Work starts on £2.4bn NeuConnect Interconnector project between UK and Germany |url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/work-starts-on-2-4bn-neuconnect-interconnector-project-between-uk-and-germany/ |publisher=The Engineer |access-date=20 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=FIRST EVER UK-GERMAN ENERGY LINK MOVES AHEAD AS CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON £2.4BN NEUCONNECT PROJECT UK MINISTER FOR INVESTMENT, GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UK AND UK ENERGY SECURITY SECRETARY CONGRATULATE NEUCONNECT TEAM ON MAJOR MILESTONE |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/first-ever-uk-german-energy-link-moves-ahead-as-construction-starts-on-2-4bn-neuconnect-project/ |website=Press release |publisher=NeuConnect |access-date=20 July 2023}} {{as of|lc=no|2023|06}}, operation was expected to start in 2028. On 21{{nbsp}}May 2024, Gregory Hands and Robert Habeck made a symbolic groundbreaking in Germany.{{Cite news |date=2024-05-21 |title=Spatenstich für erste deutsch-britische Stromleitung |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/energie/stromverbindung-deutschland-grossbritannien-100.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=Tagesschau |language=de}} As of November 2024, subsea cabling works had started in UK waters.{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2024-11-28 |title=NeuConnect completes phase one cabling for UK interconnector |url=https://www.power-technology.com/news/neuconnect-completes-phase-one/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Power Technology |language=en-US}}

The cable will run between a new substation on the Isle of Grain, in Kent in England to the Fedderwarden substation in Wilhelmshaven in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. Landfall will be next to Grain Coastal Park, in Kent, and at Hooksiel, near Wilhelmshaven in Germany.

At {{val|725|u=km}} in length, the interconnector will be one of the longest worldwide.

As of 2022 the project was expected to cost {{GBP|2.4 billion}} ({{euro|2.8 billion}}). The project is expected to deliver {{GBP|1.7 billion}} in consumer benefits to UK consumers over 25 years, and could deliver a net reduction in carbon emissions of over 13MtCO2 in the same time.

The project is privately financed by Meridiam from France, Allianz Capital Partners from Germany, Kansai Electric Power Company from Japan, and Tokyo Electric Power Company from Japan. It is planned to exchange electricity on days with excess production on one side and a deficit on the other side of the Channel, as both countries have been expanding their wind turbine capacities and production has become more volatile.{{Cite news |last=ppl |date=2024-05-22 |title=Stromtrasse nach England |access-date= |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine}} Britain, an electricity importer, where 5.4 percent of its 2020 demand was covered from abroad, hopes that the connection will lead to lower electricity costs for consumers, where the price of electricity has been permanently higher than in Germany.

The HVDC link will consist of two main cables, each approximately {{convert|720|km|abbr=in}} long, together with a much thinner fibre optic cable for temperature and acoustic sensing for about {{convert|150|km|abbr=in}} from each landfall. The DC element will operate at 525{{nbsp}}kV,{{cite web |title=Onshore Konverterstation |url=https://de.neuconnect-interconnector.com/onshore-konverterstation/ |publisher=NeuConnect |accessdate=7 January 2023| language=de}} with a maximum capacity of 1,400{{nbsp}}MW.{{cite book |title=Proposals for the NeuConnect Interconnector Public Information Leaflet |publisher=NeuConnect |url=https://neuconnect.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/182-NeuConnect-8pp-Web.pdf |accessdate=26 January 2020}}

Historically, both countries already have had interconnectors through the North Sea with other countries: NordLink between Norwegian hydropower plants and German wind power and Britain as net electricity importer has interconnectors with France, Ireland and the Netherlands.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-31 |title=„NeuConnect“: Das soll die gigantische Stromautobahn unter Wasser leisten |url=https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article234751722/NeuConnect-Das-soll-die-gigantische-Stromautobahn-unter-Wasser-leisten.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |work=Welt |language=de}} NeuConnect will become the first direct interconnector between the UK and Germany.{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/about-us/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=NeuConnect Interconnector |language=en-GB}}

Neuconnect Britain Ltd. was established in 2018.

NeuConnect received Interim Project Approval from Ofgem in January 2018.

Public consultation events were held in July 2019.

In December 2019, the planning application was submitted to Medway Council{{cite web |title=Project News |url=https://neuconnect.eu/news/ |publisher=NeuConnect |accessdate=25 January 2020}}

and invitations to Tender were launched {{cite web |title=NEUCONNECT'S MAJOR £1BN PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME MOVES TO NEXT STAGE, KEEPING VITAL NEW ENERGY LINK FIRMLY ON TRACK |url=https://neuconnect.eu/neuconnects-major-1bn-procurement-programme-moves-to-next-stage-keeping-vital-new-energy-link-firmly-on-track/ |accessdate=26 April 2020}}

In January 2020, the Federal Network Agency in Germany (BNetzA) confirmed the NeuConnect interconnector project in its 2019-2030 grid development plan.

In April 2020, Neuconnect completed site survey work on the Isle of Grain.{{cite web |title=NEUCONNECT COMPLETES SITE SURVEY WORKS AS NEW ENERGY LINK CONTINUES TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS |url=https://neuconnect.eu/neuconnect-completes-site-survey-works-as-new-energy-link-continues-to-make-good-progress/ |website=NeuConnect |accessdate=26 April 2020}}

A €1.2 billion cable contract was awarded in February 2022,{{cite web |title=Prysmian Wins EUR 1.2 Billion Contract to Deliver UK-Germany Interconnector |url=https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/03/02/prysmian-wins-eur-1-2-billion-contract-to-deliver-uk-germany-interconnector/ |website=Offshore Wind |date=2 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=NEUCONNECT AWARDS OVER £1.5BN OF MAJOR CONTRACTS AS FIRST EVER UK-GERMAN ENERGY LINK MOVES AN IMPORTANT STEP CLOSER |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/neuconnect-awards-over-1-5bn-of-major-contracts-as-first-ever-uk-german-energy-link-moves-an-important-step-closer/ |website=News |publisher=NeuConnect |access-date=22 April 2022 |date=11 April 2022 |quote=Contractors selected for cabling and converter station works on new interconnector that will connect two of Europe’s largest energy markets for first time}} and substations contract in April.{{cite web |title=Siemens Energy receives order for power connection to Great Britain |url=https://www.windtech-international.com/projects-and-contracts/siemens-energy-receives-order-for-power-connection-to-great-britain |website=www.windtech-international.com}}

In July 2022, the project reached financial close, allowing early construction works to begin later in 2022. {{cite web |title=FIRST EVER UK-GERMAN ENERGY LINK MOVES AHEAD AS £2.4BN/€2.8BN NEUCONNECT PROJECT REACHES FINANCIAL CLOSE |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/first-ever-uk-german-energy-link-moves-ahead-as-2-4bn-e2-8bn-neuconnect-project-reaches-financial-close/ |website=NeuConnect News |access-date=9 September 2022 |format=Press release |date=7 July 2022}}

In October 2022, the cable manufacturer Prysmian started production of the 725km cable.{{cite web |title=CABLING PRODUCTION STARTS ON NEUCONNECT IN IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR FIRST EVER UK-GERMAN ENERGY LINK |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/cabling-production-starts-on-neuconnect-in-important-milestone-for-first-ever-uk-german-energy-link/ |website=NeuConnect News Releases |publisher=NeuConnect |access-date=5 November 2022 |date=4 October 2022}}

{{as of|lc=no|2022|12}}, early construction works had started in Wilhelmshaven and Isle of Grain,{{cite web |title=NEUCONNECT COMPLETES A YEAR OF SIGNIFICANT MILESTONES WITH EARLY WORKS NOW UNDERWAY ON FIRST EVER UK-GERMAN ENERGY LINK |url=https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/neuconnect-completes-a-year-of-significant-milestones-with-early-works-now-underway-on-first-ever-uk-german-energy-link/ |website=NeuConnect News |publisher=NeuConnect |access-date=23 December 2022}} and manufacture of the cable had started. As of November 2024, subsea cabling works had started in UK waters.{{Cite web |last=Maksumic |first=Zerina |date=2024-11-28 |title='Major milestone' for UK-Germany subsea link as first cabling stage wraps up (Video) |url=https://www.offshore-energy.biz/major-milestone-for-uk-germany-subsea-link-as-first-cabling-stage-wraps-up-video/ |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=Offshore Energy |language=en-US}}

{{Portal|the United Kingdom|Germany|Energy}}

• Icelink
• North Sea Link
• Nemo Link
• NordLink
• BritNed

{{reflist}}

• [https://neuconnect.eu/ Company website]
• [https://neuconnect.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/182-NeuConnect-8pp-Web.pdf Public consultation leaflet]

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from Great Britain

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Synchronous Grid of Continental Europe

Category:HVDC transmission lines

Category:Germany–United Kingdom relations

Category:Electrical interconnectors in the North Sea