Norway and Scotland to Share Renewable Energy

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources Europe (Galway, Ireland)--Environmental studies and cable route studies have begun for a project to develop an interconnector between Norway and Scotland. Known as the NorthConnect Project, it entails the construction of a 1,400-megawatt (MW) power transmission link, which will connect Peterhead, Scotland, to Sima or Samnanger in Norway.

Xodus Group (Aberdeen, Scotland) has been contracted to identify the optimal route across the 600 kilometers of the North Sea, which divides the two countries. The cable will have to cross a large number of pipelines and cables, plus overcome some challenges with the seabed; however, initial studies have revealed that the project is feasible.

NorthConnect is a joint venture owned by five energy utilities: Vattenfall (Stockholm, Sweden), E-CO Energi (Oslo, Norway), Agder Energi (Kristiansand, Norway) and Lyse Energi (Stavanger, Norway) and SSE plc (Perth, Scotland). The Scottish European Green Energy Centre provided €50,000 ($65,000) to support the project's early survey work, and this was followed by a €690,000 ($890,000) European Union grant in March 2012.

The NorthConnect project forms part of a wider plan for the North Sea grid, which will see greater European transmission between marine and offshore wind projects, and help level energy prices across Europe. For additional information see May 2, 2012, article - Denmark and U.K. Looking to Connect Power Grids .

Interconnection across the North Sea would enable flows of energy from Scotland to Norwegian pumped-storage hydro schemes during periods of high renewable production and low electricity demand in the U.K. market, while giving Norway access to renewable energy during periods of dry or freezing weather that may restrict the capacity of pumped-storage hydro.

During a recent visit to Norway, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond highlighted the renewables links between the two countries, "The NorthConnect project is an excellent example of the kind of grid interconnection that will be needed across the continent to ensure we maximise the contribution of all European nations to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, increase energy security and meet targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions and renewable energy generation."

NorthConnect chairman Odd Øygarden welcomed the Scottish government's support for the project. He predicted a future with "huge levels of wind-based generation of electricity in the U.K. and the North Sea." Øygarden said: "NorthConnect connecting the Nordic hydro-based electricity production with this wind generation will create a unique renewable quality in security of supply in the European electricity market."

As part of our International Power Industry Database, Industrial Info is tracking more than 200 windfarms in Scotland and more than 220 hydropower plants in Norway.

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