The England-France Interconnector is a 2,000MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between the French and British transmission systems with ownership shared between National Grid and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE). The UK landing point is at Baker's Gap, near Folkestone from where the interconnector is cabled underground to Sellindge converter station and connected to the transmission system. The interconnector is approximately 70km in length with 45km of subsea cable. The availability has consistently exceeded 93% per year.

National Grid Interconnectors Limited has been established and incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid Plc to receive an interconnector licence as a consequence of the Energy Act 2004 and taking effect on Monday 14 August 2006.

National Grid Interconnectors Ltd will jointly own and operate the Interconnexion France Angleterre (IFA) with RTE SA (the French transmission system operator).

At the end of 2000, the National Grid Company plc (which refers to the name by which National Grid was formerly known) and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE) published arrangements for the allocation of capacity rights on the England-France Interconnector (IFA) which would be effective from 1 April 2001. Capacity rights on the England-France Interconnector were made available to third parties through the published Access Arrangements, facilitating further the opportunities for cross border energy trading.

Capacity is offered for sale to Eligible Users, separately in the direction England to France and France to England through tenders and auctions, for different contractual periods.

• Historic capacity prices and volumes
• An overview of eligible user requirements
• Documents to be completed in order to fulfil the eligibility criteria
• Additional information relative to the access arrangements.

If you require any additional information regarding the access arrangements please contact: ifa@uk.ngrid.com