NorthConnect

{{Short description|Proposed electrical transmission system under the North Sea}}

{{Infobox power transmission line

| name = NorthConnect

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| country = Norway
United Kingdom (Scotland)

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| start = Samnanger, Norway

| through = North Sea

| finish = Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (preliminary)

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| construction_cost = £1.3{{nbsp}}billion

| owner = NorthConnect

| partners = Agder Energi, Norway
E-CO, Norway
Lyse Energi, Norway
Vattenfall, Sweden

| operator = NorthConnect

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| type = submarine cable

| current_type = HVDC

| length =

| length_km = 650

| capacity = 1,400{{nbsp}}MW{{cite web|url= http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/interconnector-northconnect-icid12.html |title=NorthConnect Interconnector|publisher=4C |accessdate=26 February 2017}}

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The NorthConnect (also known as Scotland–Norway interconnector) was a proposed {{convert|650|km|adj=on|abbr=in}} 1,400{{nbsp}}MW HVDC interconnector over the floor of the North Sea.

Interconnection

It would have been the first HVDC route to connect Scotland's electricity network directly to that of mainland Europe (though there are existing connections from England to mainland Europe), whereas Norway already has interconnectors to Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.{{cite news|url= http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Cable-to-Norway-could-be.6844505.jp |title=Cable to Norway could be subsea 'supergrid'|last=Fyall|first=Jenny|date=29 September 2011|work=The Scotsman|accessdate=29 September 2011|location=Edinburgh}}

Project partners

The £1.75{{nbsp}}billion project was promoted by NorthConnect, a Norwegian company specially set up by five electricity companies (Agder Energi, E-CO, Lyse, SSE plc and Vattenfall) to advance the scheme. It was hoped that the connector will assist the growth of the Norwegian and Scottish renewable energy industries.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/norway-electricity-sharing-by-2020-t0g8xbx2v2j|title=Norway electricity sharing 'by 2020'|last=Jones|first=Peter|date=29 September 2011|work=The Times Scotland|access-date=29 September 2011|location=London}}

Route

The Scottish landfall would have been at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, where the connector will join the National Grid. The Norwegian landfall will be Simadalen at the head of the Hardangerfjord in Norway, at the Sima Kraftwerk hydroelectric plant.{{cite web |title=What is NorthConnect? |url=https://northconnect.co.uk/hva |publisher=North Connect |accessdate=8 November 2019}}

Specification

The HVDC cable was proposed to be approximately {{convert|665|km|abbr=in}} long, and have a capacity of 1,400{{nbsp}}MW.

It was expected to cost €1.7{{nbsp}}billion.{{cite web |title=NorthConnect FAQ |url=https://northconnect.co.uk/faq |accessdate=8 November 2019}}

Project history

On 5 March 2013, it was announced that SSE has left the project.{{cite news|url= http://uk.reuters.com/article/sse-power-norway-idUKL6N0BXBWU20130305 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160601023045/http://uk.reuters.com/article/sse-power-norway-idUKL6N0BXBWU20130305 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 1 June 2016 |title=UK power firm SSE pulls out of UK-Norway cable project|date=3 March 2013|work=Reuters|accessdate=6 March 2013}} The Norwegian government ruled that only Statnett could own export cables.{{cite web|url=http://www.tu.no/kraft/2014/12/30/kabelmonopol-ikke-fjernet---kabelselskap-frykter-a-bli-nedprioritert |title=Kabelmonopol ikke fjernet - kabelselskap frykter å bli nedprioritert |trans-title=Cable monopoly not removed - cable companies fear being downgraded |date=30 December 2014|publisher=|accessdate=13 March 2018}} In 2016, Norway debates rules for export cables.{{cite web|url=http://www.tu.no/kraft/2016/01/07/konkurransetilsynet-advarer-mot-okte-kraftpriser---vil-at-kun-statnett-skal-fa-bygge-kabler-til-utlandet |title=Konkurransetilsynet advarer mot økte kraftpriser - vil at kun Statnett skal få bygge kabler til utlandet |trans-title=The Norwegian Competition Authority warns against increased power prices - wants only Statnett to be allowed to build cables abroad |date=7 January 2016|publisher=|accessdate=13 March 2018}}{{cite web|url= http://www.europower.com/Public/article270834.ece |title=Politisk flertall for private utenlandskabler |trans-title=Political majority for private foreign cables |date=28 September 2016|publisher=|accessdate=11 October 2016}}

In June 2016, Ofgem approved NorthConnect. Other approvals were still needed.

{{Cite news

| title = Ofgem approves Scotland-Norway power cable

| work = BBC News

| date = 2016-06-22

| url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-36597451

| accessdate =2016-08-02}}

The European Union put NorthConnect on the "Projects of Common Interest" list and supported its development with €10{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web|url= http://renews.biz/106040/northconnect-scores-eu-cash/ |title=UK-Norway link bags EU grant|work=reNEWS - Renewable Energy News|date=24 February 2017|accessdate=26 February 2017}}{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-39080305 |title=EU funding boost for Scotland-Norway power cable|work=BBC News|date=24 February 2017|accessdate=26 February 2017}}{{cite web|url= https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/north-of-scotland/1179346/eu-cash-boost-for-electricity-superhighway/ |title=EU cash boost for electricity "superhighway" |date=25 February 2017|work=Press and Journal|accessdate=26 February 2017}}

A 2019 analysis by the Norwegian water department indicates that the connection would be economically viable despite an increase of less than half a eurocent per kWh for Norwegian consumers.{{cite web |title=Venstre: Kommuner vil tape milliarder på kabel-nei |trans-title=Left: Municipalities will lose billions on cable - no |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/venstre-kommuner-vil-tape-milliarder-pa-kabel-nei/486937 |website=Tu.no |publisher=Teknisk Ukeblad |language=no |date=8 March 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Viseth |first1=Ellen Synnøve |title=NVE: Ny skottlandskabel er lønnsom for Norge, men strøm og nettleie kan bli dyrere |trans-title=NVE: New Scottish cable is profitable for Norway, but electricity and network rental may be more expensive |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/nve-ny-skottlands-kabel-er-lonnsom-for-norge-men-strom-og-nettleie-kan-bli-dyrere/480765 |website=Tu.no |publisher=Teknisk Ukeblad |language=no |date=10 December 2019 |url-access=subscription}}

By 2019, the project had received all the most important marine and planning consents in the UK. Following detailed design work, it was hoped that the link will be constructed between 2019 and 2022.{{cite web |url=https://northconnect.co.uk/how |website=NorthConnect |title=How |accessdate=8 November 2019}}

The consortium hoped to make a final investment decision in 2020.

On 25 March 2020, NorthConnect received a letter from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, informing them that NorthConnect's license applications would not be processed at the present time.{{cite web |title=NorthConnect takes note of the OED's decision |url=https://northconnect.co.uk/articles/northconnect-takes-note-of-the-oeds-decision |website=northconnect.co.uk |publisher=NorthConnect |accessdate=12 April 2020}}{{Cite web |date=30 March 2020 |title=Norway puts subsea power link to Scotland on hold |url=https://www.insider.co.uk/news/norway-puts-subsea-renewables-link-21779783}}

At the end of 2021, the Norwegian finance minister stated that there was no intention to process the application.{{cite web |title=Vedum gravlegger NorthConnect for godt |trans-title=Vedum is burying NorthConnect for good |url=https://e24.no/olje-og-energi/i/jap28o/vedum-gravlegger-northconnect-for-godt |website=e24.no |publisher=e24.no |accessdate=25 May 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Viseth |first1=Ellen Synnøve |date=13 October 2021 |title=Støre-regjeringen: Vil ikke godkjenne noen nye utenlandskabler |trans-title=The Støre government: Will not approve any new foreign cables |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/store-regjeringen-vil-ikke-godkjenne-noen-nye-utenlandskabler/514227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013193128/https://www.tu.no/artikler/store-regjeringen-vil-ikke-godkjenne-noen-nye-utenlandskabler/514227 |archive-date=13 October 2021 |website=Tu.no |publisher=Teknisk Ukeblad |language=no}}

In March 2023, the Norwegian government rejected the project's license application.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Tim |date=2023-03-20 |title=Norwegian government rejects plans for 1.4GW electricity interconnector to the UK |url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/norwegian-government-rejects-plans-for-1-4gw-electricity-interconnector-to-the-uk-20-03-2023/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=New Civil Engineer |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Nytt nei til strømkabel mellom Norge og Skottland |url=https://www.europower.no/produksjon/nytt-nei-til-stromkabel-mellom-norge-og-skottland/2-1-1552780 |website=Europower {{!}} Siste nyheter fra fornybarbransjen |language=no |date=10 November 2023}}