£1bn subsea cable will supply England’s needs
A £1 BILLION contract has been awarded for the construction of the first subsea electricity link between Scotland and England, energy firms have announced.
The 261-mile line will run from Hunterston in Ayrshire to a landing point on the Wirral peninsula and will have a 2,200 megawatt capacity.
National Grid and ScottishPower have awarded the contract to Siemens and cable manufacturer Prysmian.
They said the new link will enable large volumes of renewable wind and other energy generation to be transferred from Scotland to areas of higher demand in England.
The firms said it will be the longest 2,200MW-capacity high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable in the world.
National Grid executive director Nick Winser said: “This link will have a vital role to play in meeting both energy needs and helping to address the problem of climate change.
“We are investing in an innovative solution using the most advanced technology. As a result, the benefits for consumers and electricity generators in being able to transport power in the most efficient way will be felt for years to come.”
The energy firms said it would also be the first subsea link ever using a direct current voltage level of 600 kilovolts, which will increase the link’s capacity and lead to lower transmission losses. It is planned to be fully operational by 2016.
Ignacio Galan, chairman of ScottishPower, said: “The HVDC link is a major project in the vital upgrading of the UK grid, with the grid between Scotland and England already running close to maximum capacity.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond’s pledge to sign up 1m voters
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 8 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
unimpressedone
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 08:53 AMAt least we'll have the means in place to import the power we need when renewables can't hack it - which will be most of the time. Another hike in our already eco-inflated power bills.
billalba
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:26 PMAngus og...doh!
billalba
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 08:25 PMWasn't a tory in the press today saying england wouldnt buy anything from Scotland?? more propoganda and lies from the Unionist cabal.
samcoldstream
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 03:27 PMThe DECC has repeated, time and time again, that the UK has a mixed energy policy. The SSE application to construct the £800 million Great Glen hydro-electric pump storage scheme, and today's announcement by the PM about the £500 million nuclear partnership with France only confirms this stated policy. Scottish Power, which is owned by Spanish giant Iberdrola, isn't interested in energy politics in the UK, only in delivering electricity to where it has the most customers , and that is in England.
anel
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:10 PMDoes this show how the Beauly Denny cable need not go through the heart of the Highlands?
Angus Og
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 09:47 AMI can't see the point of this. Scotland is developing renewable energy in order to be more sustainable. We'll need all the energy we produce in Scotland, so there will be no spare capacity to go to England. If Scotland does become independent, then there will probably be a block on exporting energy. This is at best a stupid pipe dream, at worst pie in the sky. I'm sure the companies will be expecting public subsidies, and if not it's their poor customers who will bear hugely increased costs. Think again !
I AM THE OPERATOR OF A POCKET CALCULATOR
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:18 AMRufus Grahamski Danielrober....come out come out wherever you are.....
I AM THE OPERATOR OF A POCKET CALCULATOR
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:16 AMWHAT DOES JOHANN AND LABOUR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THESE SCOTTISH JOBS GOING TO A GERMAN COMPANY...OH YEAH....THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ARE NOT INVOLVED SO IT IS ALL HUNKY DORY...ANYONE FOR A SIDE ORDER OF HYPOCRITE WITH THEIR HUMBLE PIE....?
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.