IFA2 marks five years of strengthening British and French energy security

National Grid is celebrating five years of successful operation of its IFA2 interconnector — the 1GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity link which is enabling secure and cleaner electricity to flow between Great Britain and France. IFA2 demonstrates in practice how cross border links strengthen resilience and energy security in both countries. Today’s anniversary follows recent analysis which found National Grid’s fleet of interconnectors has delivered over £1.65bn of benefit for GB consumers since 2023, compared to if the portfolio was replaced with traditional gas generation.

Since entering service in January 2021, as part of National Grid’s world leading subsea interconnector portfolio, IFA2 has on average, imported enough electricity to power over 1.6 million British homes every year. The link has also played a meaningful role in reducing carbon emissions, helping the nation to avoid 2.5 million tonnes of carbon – equivalent to 230,000 petrol cars off the road each year.

As National Grid’s second interconnector to France, developed in partnership with RTE, IFA2 stretches 149 miles across the seabed of the English Channel from Lee-on-Solent near Portsmouth to Caen in Normandy. Construction required over 50 specialist vessels, and more than 1,000 engineers who worked over three million hours to lay the cable beneath the busiest shipping lane in the world, uncovering remarkable finds including 40-million-year-old fossils and the wreck of a WWII Barracuda bomber, now preserved by the Fleet Air Arm Museum. While engineering challenges were overcome from the laying of cables beneath an airport through to planting along the boundary with neighbouring holiday parks, using steel screw piles instead of concrete to reduce CO2 emissions, and reducing the impacts of our converter station.

Interconnectors continue to demonstrate value for consumers and IFA2 will also complete its first five-year assessment under the cap and floor regulatory regime, expected to deliver millions of pounds in payments to consumers.

Rebecca Sedler, Managing Director – Interconnectors at National Grid said:

Interconnectors like IFA2 play a vital role in supporting our energy security, adding flexibility and resilience as part of a diverse energy system. Over the past five years — and throughout our long partnership with RTE — this link has enabled electricity to flow instantly to where it’s needed most, strengthening resilience and providing secure power for consumers on both sides of the Channel.

Dave Field, Head of Operations & Maintenance - IFA2, said:

I’m proud to lead the team at IFA2. This is a project that means a great deal to me personally, having worked in and around Portsmouth for 20 years. It is especially rewarding to now see the positive impact it has within the community, including supporting the development and expertise of skilled HVDC engineers.

Notes to editors

1. The building of IFA2 in 40 seconds, time lapse video: The building of IFA2 in 40 seconds
2. The benefits of National Grid Ventures interconnectors fleet - Interconnectors deliver billions in benefits to Brits | National Grid