GridLink has been granted concessions for maritime public domain utilisations by the Prefecture du Nord and Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque for the subsea cable.
Two concessions were necessary because the cable route falls within the jurisdiction of the French state and the Port of Dunkerque.
GridLink has been granted an environmental authorisation by the Prefecture du Nord for the whole project within French territory.
The environmental authorisation includes the installation of the subsea cable and underground cable, shore crossing works and construction of the converter station at Dunkerque.
GridLink submitted applications for Environmental Authorisation, maritime public utilisation concession and declarations of public utility in France between May to August 2021.
In accordance with the administrative procedures, the application files are subject to a public inquiry. The commissioner to oversee the public inquiry was appointed on 7 July 2022 by the Tribunal Administratif de Lille. The Order for the public inquiry was published by the Prefecture du Nord on 29 August 2022.
The public inquiry opened on 26 September and it will close on 26 October 2022.
The application files may be viewed at the town halls in the vicinity of the site or the web-site address: https://participation.proxiterritoires.fr/gridlink
GridLink has been granted a Marine Licence by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for the cable installation and associated works in UK waters.
The Commission de Régulation de l’Énergie (CRE has published DELIBERATION NO. 2022-12 Deliberation of the French Energy Regulatory Commission of 19 January 2022 deciding on the investment request submitted by GridLink Interconnector Limited. CRE has rejected GridLink’s investment request submitted under Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 347/2013.
GridLink is disappointed at the decision by CRE, given that there is a climate change crisis, need to integrate more renewable energy into the grid system, record-breaking gas and electricity prices, and concerns over security of supply in France and the UK. Interconnectors help to reduce electricity prices, enhance security of supply and reduce CO2 emissions, and GridLink will be one of the most cost-effective interconnectors in the world to help solve these problems.
GridLink is confident that it can address the issues raised by the CRE decision, and therefore remains committed to continue developing the project.
GridLink Interconnector Ltd has launched the process to obtain project financing for the GridLink Project. Preliminary Information has been sent to prospective lenders to inform them about the Project, the Promoter, key technical parameters and commercial arrangements, and to invite expressions of interest and feedback on commercial terms. The total cost of the GridLink Project is approximately €900 million, which will be funded by a combination of equity invested by GridLink’s owner and commercial banks.
The European Commission has adopted the 5th list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs), including 98 key cross-border energy infrastructure projects. However, due to the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, projects originating in the UK are no longer eligible for PCI status. Therefore, although GridLink has been designated as a PCI since 2017 on the 3rd List and 4th List, it does not appear on the 5th List.
GridLink remains a critical part of the future integration of the European energy system which will bring positive security of supply, climate change and economic benefits. Whilst PCI status is a welcome recognition of the project, the change is due solely to the new relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union and it does not change the importance of the benefits that GridLink offers to France, the UK and the European Union.
RTE submitted its Environmental Authorisation application file on 26 July 2021.
In the next few months, the application will be examined by the competent authorities before the consultation phase and public inquiry. The decisions on the environmental and other administrative authorisations are expected in mid-2022.
GridLink submitted its application files for Environmental Authorisation and Maritime Public Area Utilisation Rights in France on 7th May 2021. In the next few months, the applications will be examined by the competent authorities before the start of a public inquiry in the Autumn. The decisions on the applications are expected in early 2022.
GridLink has announced the start of the procurement process for site remediation and enabling works at its converter station site at Kingsnorth in Kent through the UK Government Find-a-Tender portal. The tender is an open procedure which requires interested parties to register their interest by the 5th May 2021.
