Project Information – GridLink Interconnector

The NEED FOR INTERCONNECTORS

Interconnectors are part of how the European energy market moves to a sustainable future and GridLink will contribute to the transformation.

The market’s many challenges relate to meeting environmental targets while overcoming the aging of existing infrastructure. Meeting these challenges requires both greater use of renewable energy and an improved transmission network to distribute energy and ensure security of supply.

PROJECTS OF COMMON INTEREST

From 2017 to 2021, the European Commission awarded GridLink the status of Project of Common Interest (PCI). This status recognised the project’s key contribution to realising Europe-wide goals related to energy policy and climate change.

Please use the link below for information on Projects of Common Interest:

INFORMATION LEAFLET

GridLink intends to positively engage with all stakeholders throughout the development phase, construction works and during operation of the interconnector. We have prepared this information leaflet as a short introduction to the overall project.

For more detailed information, please see our Non-Technical Summary and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Please find a link to the Information Leaflet below:

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

Please find a link to the Non-Technical Summary below:

For more detailed information on environmental issues, please see our Environmental Impact Assessment.

Design of the Converter Stations and Cables

We have designed the interconnector to the highest industry standards and to deliver optimal efficiency and reliability. The design also takes into account ways to minimise environmental impacts during construction and operations by ‘building-in’ best practices and mitigation measures from an early stage.

UK GRID CONNECTION

GridLink carried out a study of the network constraints in the UK with National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET).

FRANCE GRID CONNECTION

GridLink carried out a study of the network constraints in France with réseau de transport d'électricité (RTE).

environmental impact assessment

GridLink’s impact on the environment is one of our primary concerns and we have taken environmental issues and constraints into account from the start of the project.

Avoid, wherever practicable, negative effects on the environment;

Reduce any negative effects that cannot be avoided as much as reasonably practicable;

Compensate for any potentially significant residual effects.

PERMIT APPLICATIONS

Building and operating the new GridLink interconnector requires a number of permissions, authorisations and licenses (together known as “permits”) from regulatory authorities in the UK and France.

The main permits that are required in the UK are:

Permit	Applicable Legislation	Competent Authority
License to use seabed	Crown Estate Act 1961	Crown Estate
Planning Permission	Town and Country Planning Act 1990	Medway Council
Marine Licence	Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009	Marine Management Organisation
Environmental Permit for flood risk activities	Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010	Environment Agency
Land Drainage Consent	Land Drainage Act 1991, as amended	Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board
River Works License (Medway Estuary)	Medway Ports Act 1973	Peel Ports
River Works License (Thames Estuary)	Port of London Act 1968	Port of London Authority

The main permits that are required in France are:

Permit	Applicable Legislation	Competent Authority
Environmental authorisation / Unique authorisation, including the procedures required for the Water Laws, Protected Species and ESPOO Convention	Ordonnance n°2014-619 and Environment Code	Prefecture du Nord represented by Direction Départementale du Territoire et de la Mer (DDTM)
Maritime public area utilisation concession – Port of Dunkerque (DPM GPMD)	Public Property Code	Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque (GPMD)
Maritime public area utilisation concession – territorial water (DPM TW)	Public Property Code	Prefecture du Nord Délégation à la Mer et au Littoral (DML)
Marine archaeological preventative convention	Heritage Code	Département des recherches archéologiques subaquatiques et sous-marines (DRASSM)
Archaeological preventative decision	Heritage Code	LDirection Régionale des Affaires Culturelles (DRAC)
Building permit	Town Planning Code	Grand Port Maritime de Dunkerque (GPMD)

All applications for permits are submitted in accordance with applicable national laws and regulations.

The status of the permit applications in the UK are:

License to use seabed – licence option approved by Crown Estate in July 2018
Planning Permission – Outline Planning Permission approved by Medway Council in March 2021
Marine Licence – licence approved by MMO in May 2022
Environmental Permit for flood risk activities – permit approved by the Environment Agency in June 2021
Land Drainage Consent – advised that consent is not required by Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board in July 2021
River Works License (Medway Estuary) – application to be submitted to Peel Ports prior to start of marine works
River Works License (Thames Estuary) – application to be submitted to PLA prior to start of marine works

The status of the permit applications in France are:

Environmental authorisation – application submitted to DDTM in May 2021, decision expected in March 2023
Maritime public area utilisation concession – Port of Dunkerque (DPM GPMD) – application submitted to GPMD in May 2021, decision expected in March 2023
Maritime public area utilisation concession – territorial water (DPM TW) – application submitted to DML in May 2021, decision expected in March 2023
Marine archaeological preventative convention – convention completed with DRASSM in February 2021
Archaeological preventative decision – decision received from DRAC in March 2021
Building permit – application to be submitted to GPMD in 2023

Please find links to the submitted permit application files below: