Renewable

December 7 (Renewables Now) - Belgian transmission system operator (TSO) Elia System Operator NV (EBR:ELI) on Wednesday celebrated the completion of the first interconnector between Belgium and the UK, namely the 1-GW Nemo Link.

Elia said in a statement that the GBP-600-million (USD 766m/EUR 674m) link will enter a test phase next week to ensure that everything is working properly. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2019, at which time it will immediately enter service.

Nemo Link is a joint project with Britain’s National Grid Plc (LON:NG), which plans to invest more than GBP 2 billion in new interconnectors between the UK and Europe over the next five years, as stated by CEO John Pettigrew.

“Not only will this interconnector help us to accommodate more renewable energy on our grid and provide cheaper, greener energy for consumers as part of our modern Industrial Strategy, it will also see continued and close cooperation on energy across borders with our European partners,” commented Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Elia noted that this is the first time it uses HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) technology for a subsea interconnector. It connects converter stations in Richborough, the UK, and Herdersbrug, Belgium, via a 140-km cable.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.277/EUR 1.123)