HVDC Norway–UK
Encyclopedia
HVDC Norway–UK is a proposed subsea high-voltage direct current
electricity cable between Norway
and the United Kingdom
. It is a joint project of the transmission system operator
s Statnett
and National Grid plc
.
The project was first proposed in 2003 when Statnett and National Grid prepared a 1,200 MW interconnector between Suldal
in Norway and Easington
, County Durham
, in the United Kingdom. This project was suspended.
On 6 October 2009, Statnett and National Grid announced they are conducting a feasibility study of the cable. According to the pre-feasibility study the project will be economically and technologically feasible. It will be commercial cable jointly owned by Statnett and NGIL, a subsidiary of National Grid. The cable will run from Kvilldal in Norway to undecided location in the eastern part of Scotland or England. If built, the interconnection could also connect the North Sea wind farm
s as well as offshore offshore oil and gas platforms, becoming the backbone of the proposed North Sea Offshore Grid
.
The cable's length depends on its exact route. It has a planned capacity of 1,400 MW. It is estimated to cost 12 billion NOK and become operational in 2020.
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
electricity cable between Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is a joint project of the transmission system operator
Transmission system operator
File:Electricity grid simple- North America.svg|thumb|380px|right|Simplified diagram of AC electricity distribution from generation stations to consumersrect 2 243 235 438 Power stationrect 276 317 412 556 Transformer...
s Statnett
Statnett
Statnett is a Norwegian state owned enterprise responsible for owning, operating and constructing the stem power grid in Norway. The company has its headquarters in Oslo, Norway....
and National Grid plc
National Grid plc
National Grid plc is a multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its principal activities are in the United Kingdom and northeastern United States and it is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world.National Grid is listed on...
.
The project was first proposed in 2003 when Statnett and National Grid prepared a 1,200 MW interconnector between Suldal
Suldal
Suldal is a municipality in the northeast of Rogaland county, Norway located in the Ryfylke historically traditional district. Sand i Ryfylke is a the administrative center of Suldal....
in Norway and Easington
Easington (district)
Easington was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in eastern County Durham, England. It contained the settlements of Easington, Seaham, Peterlee, Murton, Horden, Blackhall, Wingate and Castle Eden...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, in the United Kingdom. This project was suspended.
On 6 October 2009, Statnett and National Grid announced they are conducting a feasibility study of the cable. According to the pre-feasibility study the project will be economically and technologically feasible. It will be commercial cable jointly owned by Statnett and NGIL, a subsidiary of National Grid. The cable will run from Kvilldal in Norway to undecided location in the eastern part of Scotland or England. If built, the interconnection could also connect the North Sea wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s as well as offshore offshore oil and gas platforms, becoming the backbone of the proposed North Sea Offshore Grid
North Sea Offshore Grid
The North Sea Offshore Grid, officially the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative , is a collaboration between EU member-states and Norway to create an integrated offshore energy grid which links wind farms and other renewable energy sources across the northern seas of Europe...
.
The cable's length depends on its exact route. It has a planned capacity of 1,400 MW. It is estimated to cost 12 billion NOK and become operational in 2020.