Forging a new HVDC link between UK and France

The project is one of the European Commission’s Projects of Common Interest and was awarded by ElecLink that will build an interconnector through the Channel Tunnel to provide a power transmission link between the UK and France with a capacity of a 1,000MW in either direction of flow for a total project value for the consortium of approximately €219m. The share of Prysmian that will coordinate the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the interconnection is about €79m.

“The development of power transmission interconnections is of paramount importance in Europe and we are proud to make our technologies and experience available for the realisation of a project with such a high strategic value,” said Massimo Battaini, Energy Projects Senior Vice President at Prysmian Group.

The ElecLink HVDC cable link will increase the energy exchange between France and the UK contributing to the integration of energy markets and enabling the diversification of energy sources. The ElecLink interconnector will provide cost effective additional power transmission capacity with minimal environmental impact through the interoperability of the Channel Tunnel, a low environmental impact project with no overhead lines and no undersea cables providing carbon reduction of 6.1 million tonnes.

The project comprises of a 320kV extruded HVDC underground cable turnkey system that includes the engineering, production and installation of one HVDC symmetrical monopole circuit along a 51km route length to be installed into the Channel Tunnel. The HVDC cable will connect the future converter stations located in Peuplingues (FR) and Folkestone (UK). As part of the complete system Prysmian will also supply and install underground cables for the HVAC link to the Sellindge substation (UK).

All cables will be manufactured in Prysmian’s plant located in Gron (France) one of the Group’s excellence centres for EHV cables, both AC and DC.