Construction has started on the German portion of an interconnector linked to the UK with the milestone marked by a ground-breaking ceremony in Wilhelmshaven.
German Ministers Robert Habeck and Olaf Lies, plus UK Minister Greg Hands attended the ceremony for the NeuConnect, the first UK-German interconnector.
The link is expected to be completed by 2028.
Led by global investors Meridiam, Allianz Capital Partners (on behalf of the Allianz companies), Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO, NeuConnect is a privately financed £2.4bn (€2.8bn) project.
New converter stations will be built in Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany and on the Isle of Grain in England, connected by 725 km of land and subsea cables.
The new link will allow up to 1.4GW of electricity to flow in either direction, helping to boost energy security and resilience in the UK and Germany.
By integrating renewable energy sources in both countries, analysis shows NeuConnect could also deliver a net reduction in carbon emissions of over 13 million tonnes of CO2 over 25 years.
NeuConnect’s contractors Siemens Energy and Prysmian are now starting the construction of the converter station and cabling works in Wilhelmshaven.
Habeck said: “The energy transition will succeed if we work together in Europe. The first German-British interconnector will help to balance out fluctuations in the output of renewable energies, increase flexibility on the electricity markets and thus maintain system stability in both countries at the highest level.”
Hands added: “Investment like this, which will deliver crucial new infrastructure, shows our close relationship with Germany is going from strength to strength.”
NeuConnect Chair Julia Prescot said: “Germany and the UK share a common goal of delivering a greener, more secure energy system for the future, so NeuConnect will make a vital contribution, uniting our Net Zero ambitions and strengthening the economic links between both countries.
“As we mark a new chapter with the start of major construction, we are particularly grateful to the German and British Governments for their continued support as this vital new energy link begins to take shape.”
Construction work at NeuConnect’s UK site on the Isle of Grain began last year, with the start of foundation works on the UK converter station starting earlier this month.