GRIDLINK INTERCONNECTOR In NUMBERS

Improving the supply of electricity in Europe

GridLink interconnector is a new 1.4GW high voltage electricity interconnector between UK and France helping each country to meet its energy needs for the next 25 years.

Once operational, GridLink will transport sufficient electricity to supply 2.2 million households in France and the UK.

Introducing GridLink

GridLink is a significant new infrastructure project that will install two High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cables under the sea to connect Dunkerque in France and Kingsnorth in UK.

Its total subsea route length will be 140km, making it one the shortest interconnectors between UK and Europe. GridLink is a major step forward in addressing UK and France’s future energy needs.

From 2017 to 2021, GridLink was selected as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) by the European Commission, until no longer eligible due to the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. PCIs are key cross border infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of European countries to help achieve energy policy and climate change objectives. As a PCI, GridLink has also been successful in securing a development funding grant of up to €15.1 million from the Connecting Europe Facility, a European funding initiative developed to direct investment into strategic infrastructure projects.

Why build an interconnector?

Interconnectors improve the connection of power producers to consumers, including enhancing the distribution of renewable energy and providing security in case of any interruptions to electricity supply caused by weather conditions, difficulties at electricity producers or faults on the network. As a result, it will also help lower the cost of electricity for consumers, industry and business.

The interconnector will also make a sizeable contribution to reducing carbon emissions by enabling the displacement of fossil fuels by other sources of energy. The projected reduction is up to 20 million tonnes of CO2 over the lifetime of the project.