Released October 22, 2013 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland) - The U.K. and Denmark have agreed to lay the groundwork for creating the first electricity interconnector between the two countries.
U.K.'s grid operator, National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG) (London) has signed an agreement with its Danish counterpart, Energinet.dk (Frederica, Denmark), to carry out a feasibility study into the technical and economic implications of the proposed link. Both companies agreed that the interconnector could 'unlock significant economic benefits for both countries' by maximising the potential of offshore and onshore wind and by adding security of supply.
The new deal follows on from an initial study into the link started in May 2012. For additional information see May 2, 2012, article - Denmark and U.K. Looking to Connect Power Grids.
The two companies have until October 2014 to examine possible routes and landing sites, budgets and permitting.
"This agreement marks the start of what will be an exciting period of work together," explained Nick Winser, Executive Director of National Grid. "Closer integration of the markets can bring benefits to the U.K. in helping to balance our network. However much needs to be done to secure a regulatory framework that will make the interconnector a commercially feasible project."
Peder Andreasen, CEO of Energinet.dk commented: "A UK-DK cable can make an important contribution towards stronger security of supply and a more interconnected electricity market in Northern Europe."
The U.K. currently has three operational cable interconnectors with Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and there are projects looking at connections with Norway, Belgium and Iceland, and increasing capacity with France and Ireland. Denmark has interconnectors with Norway, Sweden and Germany. It is also building new interconnectors to Norway and Germany, and is investigating the possibility of establishing an interconnection between Denmark and the Netherlands.
In September last year, the first electricity link between Ireland and the U.K. went into operation. The EirGrid East-West Interconnector is a 260-kilometre (km) underground and undersea cable that runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath in Ireland. It is capable of transporting up to 500-megawatts (MW) of electricity. For additional information, see September 24, 2012, article - First Ireland-U.K. Electricity Link Powers Up.
In that same month, plans to create a much larger 5,000 MW 'energy bridge' between Ireland and the U.K. advanced to the first stage when an MoU was signed by a group of European companies and the National Grid. For additional information, see September 19, 2012, article - 'Energy Bridge' to Link U.K. and Ireland.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
U.K.'s grid operator, National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG) (London) has signed an agreement with its Danish counterpart, Energinet.dk (Frederica, Denmark), to carry out a feasibility study into the technical and economic implications of the proposed link. Both companies agreed that the interconnector could 'unlock significant economic benefits for both countries' by maximising the potential of offshore and onshore wind and by adding security of supply.
The new deal follows on from an initial study into the link started in May 2012. For additional information see May 2, 2012, article - Denmark and U.K. Looking to Connect Power Grids.
The two companies have until October 2014 to examine possible routes and landing sites, budgets and permitting.
"This agreement marks the start of what will be an exciting period of work together," explained Nick Winser, Executive Director of National Grid. "Closer integration of the markets can bring benefits to the U.K. in helping to balance our network. However much needs to be done to secure a regulatory framework that will make the interconnector a commercially feasible project."
Peder Andreasen, CEO of Energinet.dk commented: "A UK-DK cable can make an important contribution towards stronger security of supply and a more interconnected electricity market in Northern Europe."
The U.K. currently has three operational cable interconnectors with Ireland, France and the Netherlands, and there are projects looking at connections with Norway, Belgium and Iceland, and increasing capacity with France and Ireland. Denmark has interconnectors with Norway, Sweden and Germany. It is also building new interconnectors to Norway and Germany, and is investigating the possibility of establishing an interconnection between Denmark and the Netherlands.
In September last year, the first electricity link between Ireland and the U.K. went into operation. The EirGrid East-West Interconnector is a 260-kilometre (km) underground and undersea cable that runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath in Ireland. It is capable of transporting up to 500-megawatts (MW) of electricity. For additional information, see September 24, 2012, article - First Ireland-U.K. Electricity Link Powers Up.
In that same month, plans to create a much larger 5,000 MW 'energy bridge' between Ireland and the U.K. advanced to the first stage when an MoU was signed by a group of European companies and the National Grid. For additional information, see September 19, 2012, article - 'Energy Bridge' to Link U.K. and Ireland.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, three offices in North America and nine international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. To contact an office in your area, visit the Industrial Info "Contact Us" page.
