Connection agreement in Suffolk for Nautilus interconnector removed
National Grid Ventures has confirmed the removal of a connection agreement in Suffolk for the Nautilus interconnector. This latest update will see the removal of Nautilus from the interconnector register and means the LionLink interconnector will be the only interconnector project to be developed by National Grid Ventures in East Suffolk.
The development of large-scale energy infrastructure projects requires developers to enter into a connection agreement with the independent National Energy System Operator (NESO). The proposal for a new subsea cable between the UK and Belgium which also connects to offshore wind, called Nautilus, was set to connect in Leiston. However, National Grid Venture’s preferred location for connection was always Grain, and following an updated assessment in November from Ofgem and in coordination with NESO, National Grid Ventures is proceeding with its preferred connection to Grain.
Gareth Burden, Construction Director, National Grid Ventures said: “Our preference for the Nautilus interconnector has always been to connect in Grain. Now that Ofgem has approved this location, we can release Nautilus’ connection in Leiston. We have no plans to build Nautilus in Suffolk or to use the connection agreement for an alternative project.
“We look forward to engaging further with the community in Grain as we move forward with Nautilus, which will have the capacity to power over 1.7 million UK homes.”
Nautilus, a joint venture with Elia, will strengthen the shared energy security of the UK and Belgium. It will use new innovative infrastructure called an offshore hybrid asset which will connect North Sea offshore wind to the UK and Belgium via a subsea interconnector. This approach maximises the efficient use of renewable power and delivers a mostly offshore solution at the forefront of current available technology.
Notes to editors
- National Grid Ventures (NGV) is developing plans to deliver Nautilus, a new subsea cable allowing electricity to flow between the UK and Belgium, combining with an offshore wind farm. Nautilus will have the capacity to power 1.7million homes by bringing 1.4GW of clean, secure, renewable energy into the UK’s electricity system. Consumer demand for energy is set to double in the next 25 years, and Nautilus will help ensure we have enough energy to meet this need both now and in 2050.
- Nautilus is expected to save GB consumers almost £374 million in its first ten years of operation (2032-41).
- Nautilus could save 1 million tCO2 in GB in 2032 (its first year) which is equivalent to taking nearly 500,000 cars off the road, or having 50 million trees capturing CO2.
- National Grid Ventures provided formal notice of the cancellation of its connection with the National Energy System Operator on the 18 February, with the removal from the interconnector register completed on the 25 February.
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About National Grid Ventures
National Grid Ventures operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated businesses in the UK and US where it develops, operates and invests in energy projects, technologies and partnerships to accelerate the development of our clean energy future.
National Grid Ventures operates a diverse portfolio of energy assets across the UK and US, including subsea electricity interconnectors, competitive transmission, wind and solar generation, battery storage and LNG storage and regasification.
