Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about LionLink.
We will continue to update the below FAQs as our work progresses. If you would like to download the FAQs as a document, please visit our document library, and if your question is not listed below, please reach out to us via the contact details below.
About LionLink
National Grid Ventures (NGV) is developing plans to build LionLink, a new subsea electricity cable (known as an interconnector) between the UK and the Netherlands. This subsea cable will have the capacity to deliver up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, which will be vital in supporting greater energy security and delivering more affordable energy for consumers.
LionLink will bring offshore wind energy to the UK by connecting to a Dutch offshore wind farm, whilst also enabling the flow of energy between the UK and Dutch electricity systems.
LionLink will deliver a range of benefits, including:
- Strengthening the UK’s national energy security – supplying up to 2 gigawatts of electricity, enough energy to power approximately 2.5 million homes
- Lowering energy bills
- Providing clean, green, renewable energy
Having refined the early stage proposals we presented during our non-statutory consultations in 2022 and 2023, we are now proposing the following:
- Kiln Lane Substation
- Proposed Underground high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cables between Kiln Lane Substation and the proposed converter station east of Saxmundham;
- Proposed converter station east of Saxmundham;
- Proposed Underground high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables between the proposed converter station east of Saxmundham, and a proposed landfall site at Walberswick;
- Proposed Landfall site at Walberswick; and
- Proposed Offshore HVDC cables from the proposed landfall site at Walberswick at the UK coast, to the edge of the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The UK is rapidly transforming its energy system, moving away from fossil fuels and toward clean, low-carbon technologies. International electricity interconnectors are a key part of this strategy. They enable the sharing of renewable energy between countries, improving system resilience, reducing costs and making energy more sustainable. Great Britain has experienced success from existing interconnectors, which have connected energy between GB and Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The UK government has recognised the significant role that international electricity interconnectors play in facilitating a secure, stable and clean energy system. The North Sea offers an incredible opportunity for the UK and our European neighbours to deliver huge increases in offshore wind.
LionLink would continue to boost interconnector capacity and contribute towards the UK government's commitment to reaching net zero by 2050. LionLink has the potential to deliver on core aspects of the UK Government’s energy strategy, it supports a reduction in carbon emissions; contributes towards addressing the current unreliable nature of renewable energy supply and it provides the security, stability and cost savings that are associated with interconnectors. It is a step towards a more coherent and therefore more efficient electricity transmission network.
When determining the connection point for LionLink, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) undertook an appraisal process (with input from NGV) to identify a point of connection on its network which included an assessment of environmental, socio-economic, technical, and cost factors and concluded that East Suffolk was the optimal connection point.
In 2017, NGV received a connection agreement from NESO to connect to a new substation in the Leiston area. Following discussions with NESO, it has been agreed that LionLink would connect at Kiln Lane Substation, which already benefits from SPR’s existing consent and has the capacity to be extended to facilitate the project.
Like all other energy sources in the UK, the energy brought to the UK via LionLink will be distributed across the UK by the electricity grid. The purpose of this project is to bolster the security of Great Britain’s energy supply rather than meet energy demand in specific areas.
LionLink is an essential part of the transition to putting more infrastructure offshore and bringing offshore energy sources into the Grid. LionLink will run between the UK and the Netherlands via the Nederweik 3 offshore wind platform in the North Sea.
Currently, there is no fully offshore solution to connecting offshore wind and/or interconnectors to the electricity grid. Putting infrastructure offshore does not remove the need for infrastructure onshore. Energy generated or transmitted offshore needs to be connected to the onshore national grid to provide the electricity needed to power UK homes and businesses.
If consented, our anticipated timeline for LionLink is as follows:
| 2022 |
|
| 2023 |
|
| 2024 |
|
| 2025 |
|
| 2026 |
|
| 2027 |
|
| 2028 |
|
| 2028 - 2032 |
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| 2032 |
|
The anticipated lifespan of the project is about 40 years. NGV’s first interconnector, IFA, opened in 1986 and is still transmitting c. 2GW of energy between the UK and France.
An overview of interconnectors
LionLink is a proposed Offshore Hybrid Asset (OHA). OHAs are seen as the next generation of interconnector, that will connect offshore wind farms to multiple countries. By enabling the rapid transfer of electricity between markets, interconnectors enable energy to be imported and exported depending on the needs of the market and in line with market prices. As well as facilitating the sharing of energy between countries, OHAs will also help to speed up the connection of offshore wind and maximise the use of wind generation.
Interconnectors are making energy more secure, affordable, and sustainable for consumers. NGV currently has six interconnectors in operation, enabling the flow of energy between Great Britain and partners in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. The development of more interconnectors will:
- Promote more affordable energy by providing access to the lowest priced energy
- Increase security of supply by supporting the intermittent nature of renewable energy and helping to support the network when demand is high
- Support the transition to a cleaner energy system by providing more flexible capacity between the UK and neighbouring energy networks
- Maximise the use of renewable energy generation by accelerating the connection of offshore wind and maximising the use of wind generation.
Yes, LionLink will allow a 2-way flow of energy between the UK and the Netherlands. The expectation would be that the UK transfers power when we have a surplus from, for example, excess wind power and vice versa.
As peak consumption times differ across countries based on time difference, different cultural behaviours, weather etc. this enables partners to buy excess power when there is a requirement on the network and sell power when there is a surplus. UK exports also have the potential to increase given the increase in renewable energy projects being connected to the UK grid over the coming years.
Coordination and cumulative impact
Cumulative impacts with other regional projects will be considered within our Environmental Statement, and we remain committed to coordinating activities with other developers to minimise impacts on local communities and the environment. We are also modelling impact assessments based on worst-case scenarios to ensure our plans cover all potential aspects of our work.
As LionLink develops, we are working closely with these developers to minimise environmental and community impacts by aligning construction activities and mitigation measures where possible. We are collaborating with Sea Link to co-locate infrastructure for our projects, identifying a shared converter station site, access road and a potential shared proposed onshore high voltage alternating current cable corridor.
Once our plans have been refined we will set up working groups with other projects in the area to minimise impacts on local communities and the environment.
We are in conversation with the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, the Suffolk Destination Management Organisation and Federation of Small Businesses in the East of England about the project and how we can work with their members to support our supply chain and ensuring impacts on local business are minimised.
In July 2024, Ofgem held a consultation for all interested parties on the possibility of connecting Nautilus to Friston. Following the consultation, Ofgem have concluded that the Isle of Grain is a viable location to connect Nautilus to the transmission network.
NGV has always thought that that the Isle of Grain presents the best location for Nautilus given that it is a hub for energy infrastructure and has the potential to offer the shortest offshore cable route to Belgium. This view was reinforced by community and stakeholder feedback.
Now that Ofgem has approved Nautilus, NGV will pursue the project at the Isle of Grain, instead of Friston.
Regular collaboration is taking place between Sea Link and LionLink on converter station siting, and with ScottishPower Renewables on their Kiln Lane Substation plans. We meet monthly with other projects in the area and are taking a proactive and collaborative approach to identifying opportunities for coordination where they exist.
This collaboration informed the selection of Saxmundham as the preferred converter station site, enabling collocation of our converter station with Sea Link’s. If consented we will, where timelines and feasibility align, look to coordinate construction activities to minimise impacts on the public and the environment.
Public consultation, engagement and feedback
Our approach to developing LionLink is informed by environmental considerations, technical feasibility, and stakeholder input. Following securing our connection agreement, engagement with statutory bodies, local authorities, community groups, landowners and technical stakeholders has been continuous. This means that LionLink has been able to receive and address feedback across all subsequent key phases.
In January 2026, we are conducting a statutory consultation on our updated proposals for LionLink, having refined the early stage proposals we presented during our non-statutory consultations in 2022 and 2023.
We previously held two non-statutory consultations in 2022 and 2023. Feedback from these non-statutory consultations has allowed us to refine our proposals. These changes included:
| October – December 2022 | As a result of this consultation, we identified an alternative landfall site at Walberswick and an alternative onshore underground cable corridor north of Southwold. |
| September – November 2023 | We discounted Aldeburgh, our original Walberswick site, and Dunwich landfall sites. Southwold and the alternative Walberswick site were identified as the two emerging landfall preferences. We also identified Saxmundham as the preferred area for the converter station, given the opportunity for coordination and co-location with NGET’s Sea Link project. |
We are now holding our third consultation for LionLink, which is our statutory consultation. Feedback received from during this consultation will inform and improve our proposals.
We are now consulting on our updated proposals for LionLink. Our statutory consultation is live and will be running from Tuesday 13 January to Tuesday 10 March 2026.
As part of our consultation, we are seeking your feedback on all aspects of our proposals. Please submit your feedback by the end of our consultation period. You can complete an online feedback form by visiting our website here, or you can send your completed feedback form to Freepost NGV LIONLINK. If you prefer to send us your comments via email, you can send them to us at [email protected].
All responses to the consultation must be sent before 11.59pm on the closing date. However, we will accept postal responses until 16 March 2026 to allow time for their delivery.
As part of our application for development consent, we will submit a Consultation Report summarising all the issues raised in feedback, along with an explanation of how we have taken views into account to develop our final proposals.
Onshore proposals
- Kiln Lane Substation;
- Underground HVAC cables between Kiln Lane Substation and the proposed converter station;
- Converter station east of Saxmundham;
- Underground HVDC cables between the proposed converter station east of Saxmundham and a proposed landfall site at Walberswick; and
- Landfall site at Walberswick.
The proposed converter station would house several buildings up to 26 metres high and would have a footprint of up to 8.1 hectares. The design of the converter station will be carefully developed to respect the surrounding landscape character and heritage context, with building sites scaled and arranged to integrate effectively into their environment. The converter station will be positioned as low as reasonably possible within the landscape to improve visual screening.
We are currently exploring four different themes for the design of the converter station – agricultural, enhanced façade, curved roof and fragmented forms. The final design of the converter station will be based on further technical work as well as the feedback received during statutory consultation and may be a blend of these themes.
Further information on the different design themes for the converter station can be found in our consultation materials, available in our document library here.
ScottishPower Renewables has received consent to construct Kiln Lane Substation. LionLink has a connection agreement with the National Energy System Operator to link into this when it is built.
In the unlikely scenario that Kiln Lane Substation is not delivered by ScottishPower Renewables for East Anglia ONE North or East Anglia TWO, or by National Grid Electricity Transmission for Sea Link, Kiln Lane Substation would be delivered in its entirety as part of our application for LionLink.
No. Kiln Lane Substation will still be located near Friston, as outlined in our previous proposals. This substation site is the same as the original Friston Substation but was renamed following feedback from local stakeholders.
As part of our statutory consultation we have now published our revised draft order limits which outline a more refined window for where the cable corridor may be placed than was previously shown. This was refined as a result of feedback from our past consultations, as well as ongoing technical work.
We are now consulting on optionality across the high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable route, from our landfall site in Walberswick to our proposed converter station east of Saxmundham, as well as the high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable route, from our proposed converter station east of Saxmundham to Kiln Lane Substation. Further information on the different route options for both the HVDC and HVAC cable corridors can be found in our project overview document, available in the document library here.
Feedback received during our statutory consultation, alongside further technical work, will inform our final cable route submitted as part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
HVDC cables are designed to manage direct current. These cables transmit energy more efficiently over longer distances, carrying electricity from the Dutch offshore windfarm to connect onshore at the landfall site in Walberswick.
HVAC cables are designed to manage alternating flow of current, which is more typically used in our day-to-day lives. The converter station switches electricity from direct current to alternating current, allowing the electricity that has been transported from the Netherlands via direct current to be safely distributed to homes and businesses.
Walberswick was selected as our preferred landfall site in February 2025 following thorough evaluation of public feedback from our previous non-statutory consultations, as well as survey works along the proposed cable route for the project.
Walberswick was selected because the onshore underground HVDC cable corridor to Saxmundham is shorter than the Southwold landfall site option (19.9 km compared to 32.8 km). In addition to having a smaller overall footprint, the Walberswick option presents a lower combined environmental impact and decreased disruption to residents when considering the full route of the project. The shorter cable corridor compared to Southwold means that the Walberswick option would have a shorter construction timeline and require fewer materials, construction sites and vehicle movements. It also involves fewer crossings of roads, waterways, and utilities, and results in reduced loss of trees and hedgerows.
Walberswick also presents a more sustainable coastal location than Southwold, being less vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Further information on the landfall selection can be found in the Options, Siting and Routeing Report in our document library.
Onshore construction
The construction phase would involve a range of temporary construction activities including working areas for construction equipment and machinery, site offices, storage, bellmouths, access road and haul roads. Haul roads would be removed when construction of the project is complete, with the land reinstated to its original condition.
Our converter station will require a new permanent access road from B11121 to the west of the proposed converter station. This would facilitate permanent shared access between Sea Link and LionLink, and would be developed by Sea Link. All underground cable infrastructure would remain buried once construction has been completed, with only link pillars visible above ground along the proposed underground HVAC cable corridor.
At our landfall site, small cable marker posts in the vicinity of the transition joint bays (TJBs) will remain as the only above ground infrastructure at this location. Once completed and operational, all underground cable infrastructure would remain buried, with only link pillars visible above ground along the proposed underground HVAC cable corridor.
Trenchless construction methods such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) would be used during the construction of the proposed landfall site at Walberswick to minimise impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. Drilling would take place at a suitable depth below ground level to avoid interaction with the shoreline, environmentally sensitive features, and to avoid impacts on coastal erosion. Construction of the proposed landfall site will not require any construction work to take place on Walberswick Beach.
Our construction vehicles would access the site via a temporary haul road using a new entrance from the B1387, reducing traffic entering Walberswick village.
Some activities at the landfall site would require 24-hour working. In most cases, continuous 24-hour construction activities at the landfall site are expected to be limited to a maximum of 10 consecutive days per HDD.
Site preparation will be required before construction of the converter station and underground cable corridors can begin. This work will involve vegetation clearance, ground investigations, archaeological surveys, and drainage measures to ensure the land remains stable and protected against flooding during both construction and operation. Diversions of existing third-party assets, such as utilities and drainage systems, may also be necessary.
To reduce disturbance, noisy plant and equipment for the converter station would be sited away from sensitive areas, and where necessary, noise mitigation such as acoustic covers and insulated wall panels would be used. Temporary lighting will be used during shorter daylight hours, though continuous 24-hour lighting is not anticipated.
The proposed underground HVDC and HVAC cable corridors have been designed to avoid watercourses and floodplains where feasible. Where crossings are required, trenchless installation methods would be prioritised to protect sensitive environments. To maintain the integrity of existing infrastructure, cable alignment would be developed to minimise the need to divert or protect other assets that are above or below ground.
Construction access and routes for the cable corridor would utilise existing roads and infrastructure where possible to reduce the extent of temporary works.
On our recently completed Viking Link project, there was a peak of 60 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) movements per day at the height of the construction period. Whilst exact numbers for LionLink will be determined later in the project’s development, Viking Link is a comparable interconnector project in scale.
Factors such as proximity of construction materials and suppliers will influence this figure, and we will always seek to use local suppliers where possible. Construction and traffic management plans will be created to identify expected movements, working movements, and any mitigations required.
We anticipate that construction for LionLink will last up to five years. Following the decision to approve development consent for the project, enabling works would be expected to begin in 2028 with construction completing in 2032. This will not involve continuous construction in all areas throughout this time, with the project delivered in sections.
We expect that construction of the converter station will take up to five years, HVDC and HVAC cable infrastructure will take up to three years, the landfall site will take up to 20 months, including site set up, enabling works, and demobilisation, and the proposed extension to Kiln Lane Substation would take up to 18 months with full construction taking up to three years.
During construction, core on-site working hours would be 7am-7pm, Monday – Friday and 7am-5pm on weekends and Bank Holidays. This does not mean that work would be taking place every day during the hours throughout the entire construction period. Instead, these hours represent the maximum window within which work can take place, depending on the activity and stage of the project. Please note that some tasks, such as those at the proposed landfall site, would require extended hours, but we will keep communities informed ahead of any changes.
We are proposing the construction of temporary haul roads where appropriate to facilitate the movement of materials and workers efficiently throughout construction. This approach would allow us to reduce traffic on the local road and keep more construction vehicles contained within our construction sites.
Temporary construction haul roads would be built towards the start of construction and may be made of stone, temporary track way or soil stabilisation, as appropriate for the type of vehicle and ground conditions. These haul roads would be removed once construction of the project is complete, with the land reinstated to its original condition.
We do not anticipate closing any public footpaths permanently, however we may need to redirect Public Rights of Way during the construction phase and possibly permanently. Our traffic management plan will set out full details of where and when these will be implemented, and we will keep the community informed and provide as much notice as possible.
Along the proposed underground HVDC and HVAC cable corridors, topsoil management practices would be implemented to support rapid land restoration. During construction, topsoil would be stripped and stored within the construction corridor, ready to use for reinstatement once construction has completed.
No additional pylons are expected to be required to connect LionLink to the network at Friston, provided that the ongoing development of the Kiln Lane Substation is completed as planned. Current works being undertaken by ScottishPower Renewables as part of a separate project include the removal of one existing pylon and the installation of two new pylons to enable the connection of the new substation.
Offshore proposals and construction
LionLink would include an offshore HVDC cable corridor extending for approximately 182 km from the landfall site at Walberswick across the North Sea to the boundary between the Exclusive Economic Zones of the UK and Netherlands , and continuing toward the Dutch offshore converter station and windfarm.
We have two offshore HVDC cable corridors as part of our preliminary environmental information report (PEIR). The original cable corridor passed through the proposed marine aggregation extractor area announced by The Crown Estate in late 2024. The alternative corridor option avoids the boundary of the proposed extraction area by 500 metres (an industry standard distance).
Only one final route will be included in the Environmental Statement and we would like to hear your views on our offshore proposals.
We have partnered with TenneT, the Dutch transmission system owner and operator to deliver LionLink. TenneT would own the offshore converter station in the Dutch North Sea that would connect to the UK’s electricity grid via offshore cables. NGV has previous collaborated with TenneT on the delivery of BritNed, our first joint interconnector project.
Before installing any cables, we would undertake surveys to refine the route. These surveys aim to identify and confirm the location of anything that could impact our ability to lay the cables, such as boulders or potential unexploded ordnance. Following these surveys, the installation route would then be cleared, removing any obstructions ahead of cable laying works.
We are continuing to coordinate closely with the Marine Management Organisation, conservation bodies, and fisheries groups to ensure offshore works are conducted responsibly. Construction would be planned to avoid sensitive areas and avoid conflicts with other marine users.
There are three methods that can be used to install a marine cable. All methods use a specialist cable installation vessel:
- Pre-cut trenching – a plough or jetting machinery would create a trench along the seabed, and the cables would be laid directly into the trench. It would be followed by a support vessel which would cover or bury the cables.
- Simultaneous lay and burial – this technique would create a trench and lay the cable into the trench at the same time. The cable laying vessel may also tow the burial equipment or it could be deployed by another vessel following close behind.
- Post-lay burial – a vessel would lay the cables on the seabed and a further vessel would follow later to bury the cables into the seabed. In some areas where the seabed is unsuitable for burial the cable may be protected by rock placement.
Community benefit
NGV recognises the importance of providing proportionate benefits to communities impacted by our work, and that communities living closest to LionLink are best placed to help shape what this should look like.
The way we deliver community benefit funding is informed by the Government’s Community Benefit Framework published in March 2025. This sets out the types of infrastructure projects that should deliver community benefit funds, and the level of funding that should be made available. In line with the Framework, we are proposing a community benefit package that reflects the recommended £530,000 to be granted per proposed converter station.
Environmental impact
NGV is committed to reducing impacts to the local environment as far as possible, so our proposals also include opportunities for environmental mitigation, compensation and enhancement. One area of opportunity is biodiversity, whereby we are committed to delivering a minimum of 10% improvement in biodiversity as in accordance with the relevant legislation.
We will also consider additional tree planting around the converter station to mitigate visual impacts, as well as landscape buffering in sensitive areas through measures such as native woodland planting and the reinforcement of existing hedgerows. During construction we will also look to avoid sensitive ecological features, including irreplaceable habitats such as ancient woodland and veteran trees.
For more information on our proposed environmental mitigations, the preliminary environmental information report is available in the document library here.
As part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, air quality will be assessed and where appropriate mitigation measures will be implemented. Any potential impacts on the health of local communities will be covered by the health assessment of the EIA. This also includes cumulative assessments of other projects in the area.
Further information, including the methodology of the air quality assessment, can be found in chapter 7 of the preliminary environmental information report available in the document library here.
The way land is reinstated depends on several factors such as land type, soil type, quality, use and construction methods.
NGV will reinstate agricultural land to the pre-works condition as reasonably possible and will reinstate affected land to the reasonable satisfaction of the landowner and occupier. We will aim to reinstate topsoil during favourable weather conditions on appropriately contoured and prepared ground. The topsoil of agricultural land will be left in a loose, friable, and workable condition and wherever possible, to its original depth over the whole working area. Subsoil will generally be ripped to an appropriate depth where the topsoil has been removed.
The project team carefully analysed the combined impact of the landfall sites and cable routes (onshore and offshore) for the Walberswick and Southwold options for LionLink ahead of selecting our preferred landfall site in February 2025.
While construction of any kind will impact the natural environment, on balance, we concluded that the overall environmental impact would be lower and that this can be mitigated with the Walberswick option. This option also involves fewer crossings of roads, waterways, and utilities, and results in reduced loss of trees and hedgerows.
Further information on our landfall site selection can be found in our Spring 2025 Newsletter, available in the document library here.
Offshore considerations are a crucial factor to our decision making and we have discounted sites further down the coast due to the impact on marine habitats. The slightly longer offshore cable route (3 km) between the Dutch offshore windfarm and Walberswick compared to Southwold has a marginal influence on the overall impact of the project on the marine environment and therefore was not a determining factor in our landfall decision.
Further information on our landfall site selection can be found in our Spring 2025 Newsletter, available in the document library here.
Economic impact
The potential impact on the local economy and any associated mitigation, such as compensation, is being closely assessed as the project progresses. At present, it is too early to provide a detailed understanding of what these may be; this will become clearer as we refine our preferred sites and progress further studies. We will produce a socio-economic report that will be submitted as part of the final application. This will also be informed by engagement with communities and local businesses.
Landowners
If your land interests are within our current proposals for the project, then you should have been contacted by our team.
You can also contact our lands team directly at [email protected].
As a landowner, you will have been invited to contribute to our statutory consultation which will inform further development of the proposals ahead of the Development Consent Order application being submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
Once the consultation has concluded, and all responses gathered, confirmation of the land required for the project would be completed.
We would seek to acquire any land identified as required for the scheme by agreement.
Once the application has been submitted, you can register to become an ‘Interested Party’, to receive notifications and advance notice of opportunities to participate in the examination process.
We have engaged landowners throughout our consenting process and will continue to do so. We are working with Fisher German, a land agency, to assist with contacting landowners and occupiers and arranging access for non-intrusive and intrusive surveys to be carried out.
Impacted parties will have been contacted ahead of our statutory consultation with details on how to engage with the team and provide feedback. Where land is identified as required for the project, we will additionally engage with these landowners in relation to voluntary agreements.
At the moment we are not in a position to determine whether the project will affect the value of any property/land. If there is a decrease in value, NGV will consider compensations to landowners/homeowners in line with the Compensation Code, which is governed by a number of Acts of Parliament and sets clear guidelines for how developers should compensate impacted owners.
Compensation can be available for properties disturbed due to construction or for properties that have reduced in value following the completion of the project. The project will aim to mitigate the risks of disturbance during construction and post-completion, and this will eventually be detailed as part of our submitted Development Consent Order.
LionLink has made a commitment to avoid routing cable through any residential properties.
Where routing is required through privately owned land, a voluntary agreement with the owner(s) of the land will be sought by the project. However, the project will also be submitting a Development Consent Order application which will grant powers to use land where no agreement has been reached.
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