Undersea power cable that can supply 2 million homes approved in Britain
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced the approval of Sea Link, a major undersea power connection between Suffolk and Kent.
Developed by National Grid, the 2 GW link is = capable of carrying enough electricity to power the equivalent of two million homes, helping move more power from where it is generated to where it is needed.
By easing pressure on the grid, it will help reduce the need to pay generators to switch off when the network cannot carry their electricity, the department said.
It added that the project will help strengthen Britain’s energy security, making the electricity network more resilient and reducing wasted energy, helping to bring down costs for consumers.
“Britain’s future rests on rebuilding the national grid so renewable energy and businesses can connect, driving economic growth and reducing our exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets which are driving up all our bills,” said Energy Minister Michael Shanks.
“By rewiring Britain, we get homegrown power to where it’s needed, we make sure the grid is resilient for the future, and we bring bills down for good.”
The decision comes after the approval of 2 major solar farms in Nottinghamshire and Cheshire, backing both the homegrown power Britain needs and the infrastructure to deliver it.
Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, near Newark in Nottinghamshire, will have a generating capacity of 800 MW – enough to power the equivalent of around 400,000 homes a year, according to the developer.
The project will be the joint biggest solar farm in the country by generating capacity, alongside Springwell Solar Farm, which was approved earlier this year.
