Category: Uncategorized

On 31^st December 2020 the UK ceased to be a member of the European Union. The relationship between the UK and the EU is now governed by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement which was signed on 24^th December 2020. This agreement provides a framework for future electricity trading across interconnectors between the UK and the EU and commits the signatories to implementing these new arrangements by 1^st April 2022.  In the meantime, electricity continues to be traded under the previously agreed Harmonised Access Rules and these rules will remain until the new arrangements are put into place.  Whilst the new arrangements will mean a change to the administrative procedures for trading electricity, GridLink’s view is that the UK’s departure from the EU does not change the underlying power market fundamentals nor does it impact the project’s potential to deliver significant environmental and socio-economic benefits.

The UK Government has published a new White Paper on energy together with a study by Aurora Energy Research showing the impact that interconnectors can have on decarbonisation of the energy system. The White Paper encourages the development of new interconnectors and the decarbonisation study shows an optimal capacity of 4 to 8 GW between the UK and France by 2030.

GridLink has applied for outline planning permission from Medway Council and a marine licence from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in the UK.

The applications are the result of more than a year of environmental studies and assessments which included extensive stakeholder engagement with interest groups, fishermen associations and statutory authorities, as well as public consultations.

The application files will be processed during the next 3-4 months, with the decisions on permit granting expected in February 2021.

GridLink has launched a new phase of public consultations in France.  These public consultations are intended to inform local communities, interest groups and other stakeholders about the results of the environmental studies and assessments for the GridLink interconnector project. This is the third phase of the public consultations, following the preliminary consultation in December 2017 and consultation at the launch of the environmental impact assessment at the end of 2019.

Following this public consultation, GridLink plans to submit an application for environmental authorisation and maritime public area utilisation rights in November 2020.

The public consultation, under the aegis of the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) and its guarantor Mr. Laurent DEMOLINS, includes a virtual exhibition, two public meetings and several thematic meetings with the main stakeholders.

The key dates are as follows:

• Wednesday 23^rd September: Launch of the virtual exhibition on the GridLink web-site
• Wednesday 7^th October: Public meeting from 18:30 to 20:30 at Bourbourg town hall
• Wednesday 14^th October: Public meeting from 18:30 to 20:30 at Loon-Plage town hall 

GridLink would like to hear your views about any aspect of the project, either through your participation in the public meetings, completion of the feedback form in the virtual exhibition or Contact Us via the GridLink web-site.

GridLink has initiated its pre-application public consultations in the UK.  The public consultations are intended to inform local communities, interest groups and other stakeholders about the GridLink interconnector project, and to obtain feedback on our proposals.

The public consultations comprise a virtual exhibition (including a live chat session), online public meeting and information points where people can take away copies of the information leaflet and non-technical summary about the project.

The key dates of the public consultations are:

    Friday 28^th August to Friday 11^th September: Virtual exhibition and information points
    Friday 4^th September: Live chat from 16:30 to 20:30
    Friday 11^th September: Online public meeting from 18:30 to 20:30

GridLink would like to hear your views about any aspect of the project, either through participation in the online public meeting, completion of the feedback form in the virtual exhibition or Contact Us via the web-site.

GridLink has launched the tender phase of the procurement of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contracts for the construction of the converter stations and supply and installation of the HVDC cable system.

The tender process is being implemented according to the Negotiated procedure set down in Council Directive 2014/25/EU on public procurement. A shortlist of suitably qualified Tenderers for each contract was selected during a pre-qualification phase, and these companies have been issued with the tender documents.

Tender submissions are expected by the end of 2020, and the tender evaluations, selection of the successful tenderers and contract negotiations will be completed in 2021.

GridLink is revising its programme of work to take into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Government guidelines to keep everybody safe and well.

With the health and well-being of its employees, advisors, stakeholders and the general public as the most important consideration, GridLink has decided to postpone public consultation events from June until September 2020.

The planning of other technical and commercial activities are also amended to allow additional time for consultations with our partners, accommodate changes to working practices and reflect the availability of personnel.

GridLink will continuously review the Government guidelines issued for working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensure that the health and safety of every person involved with the project is given the highest priority.

GridLink has completed its surveys of the converter station sites and onshore cable routes in the UK and France.

The surveys have provided key information to enable the design of the converter stations, planning of the cable routes and selection of the installation methods for the underground cables.

The information also supports our environmental studies and coordination with existing public utilities owners.

GridLink has started a new phase of public consultation in France to discuss the latest progress of the project and plan the scope of the environmental studies. Two public meetings are organized in Loon-Plage and Bourbourg on December 3 and 10. They are open to all to inquire, ask questions or make comments.

Public meeting: 3 décembre à la mairie de Loon-Plage, 27 place de la République, à 18h30

Public meeting: 10 décembre à la mairie de Bourbourg, place de l’Hôtel de ville, à 18h30

GridLink has commenced its onshore surveys in the UK and France.  The surveys involve the use of a range of topographical, geophysical and geotechnical techniques to investigate the land surface, existing underground public services, underlying geology and environmental conditions.  The companies awarded the contracts to carry out the survey are SOCOTEC in the UK and GEOTEC SAS in France.