Early works have begun on the £2.4bn NeuConnect project, the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany.
With NeuConnect reaching financial close in July, the project has continued to make rapid progress in recent months with enabling works now underway at the Isle of Grain in Kent, England and Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany.
On the Isle of Grain in Kent this month, works started on an access road to prepare the site for onshore works next year.
These early enabling works now underway in the UK and Germany keep NeuConnect on-track to start major construction in 2023.
Led by global investors Meridiam, Allianz Capital Partners, Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO, NeuConnect will become one of the world’s largest interconnectors with 725km of land and subsea cables forming an ‘invisible energy highway’ between the UK and Germany.
The NeuConnect interconnector will see two new converter stations built on the Isle of Grain in Kent, England and the Wilhelmshaven region in Lower Saxonia, northern Germany.
The new link will allow 1.4GW of electricity to flow in either direction, helping to boost energy security and resilience while also helping to integrate renewable energy sources in both countries.
Major construction to lay subsea cables and build converter stations will start in 2023, with NeuConnect due to be operational by 2028.
Julia Prescot, Chair of the NeuConnect Board and co-founder of lead investor Meridiam, said: “A series of major milestones have made this our biggest year to-date on the NeuConnect project, and the start of early works in the UK and Germany gives us continued momentum as we prepare to start construction in 2023.
“The backing of government and industry partners in Germany and the UK has been an important part of the strong progress NeuConnect has made so far, and we welcome their continued support as we work to deliver a vital new energy link for Europe.”