Thursday 10 October 2013

Contract signed for first UK-Denmark electricity link

Plans to build the first electricity interconnector between the UK and Denmark moved forward as a new contract was signed in London today.

National Grid signed a co-operation agreement with Energinet.dk - the owner of the main electricity and natural gas grids in Denmark - for an electricity link between the two countries.

The two firms will now study both the technical and economic aspects of the projects and have until October next year to look at possible routes and landing sites, budgets and permitting.

It follows an initial study between the two companies conducted last year to see if developing an electricity power connection between the two nations was possible.

Nick Winser, Executive Director of National Grid said: "Closer integration of the markets can bring benefits to the UK 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."

The UK currently has three operational interconnectors linking it with Ireland, France and the Netherlands. Other projects are looking at connecting it with Norway, Belgium and Iceland.