National Grid awards €1.5bn interconnector contracts

National Grid has awarded €1.5 billion of contracts to build the NSN interconnector between the UK and Norway.

Cable suppliers Prysmian and Nexans will deliver the cable for the 740km project, whilst convertor stations in the UK and Norway will be constructed by ABB.

The project will use twin cabling between Blyth in Northumberland to Kvilldal on the Norwegian side, meaning the total length of cable being installed will be 1450km.

Prysmian will supply and install 950 km of submarine and land cables for the UK and Norwegian North Sea sections of the route while Nexans will supply the fjord, tunnel and lake sections, as well as the onshore connection in Norway.

The 1.4GW interconnector will establish the first connection between the UK and Norway and is a joint venture between National Grid and the Norwegian transmission system operator Statnett. It is expected to be in operation by 2021.

National Grid director of European business development said: “There is a huge programme of work for us to undertake over the next five years to deliver what will be the world’s longest interconnector.

“Our contractors will have a big part to play in that successful delivery. But the benefits to both UK and Norway are also huge and when completed the link will deliver low carbon electricity for the UK and also add to security of supply for Norwegian consumers.”

Statnett executive vice president Håkon Borgen, added: “This project is an important part of Europe’s future electricity system and we are very pleased to have these contractors aboard.

“Now we can go further in building the world’s longest interconnector and we expect to see an efficient and qualified execution of the project, with focus on health, security and environment.”

National Grid signed the ownership agreement for the NSN interconnector project with Statnett in March, and the deal followed Ofgem granting the project funding through its cap and floor regulatory regime earlier that month.