A contentious change in the UK landfall location for a planned subsea electricity interconnector is underway.
- The interconnector, developed by National Grid Ventures, aims to connect 1.4GW of offshore wind between the UK and Belgium.
- Initially set to land in Suffolk, community concerns moved the location to the Isle of Grain, but Ofgem objected due to high costs.
- Reversion to the original Suffolk location has drawn criticism from Suffolk County Council over potential environmental harm.
- Officials urge for coordinated energy projects in Suffolk to minimise community and environmental impact.
The proposed subsea electricity interconnector between the UK and Belgium, developed by National Grid Ventures, is surrounded by controversy after plans reverted back to its original landfall location in Suffolk. Initially, the interconnector was planned to land in Leiston, Suffolk, but local unease prompted a proposal to change the site to the Isle of Grain, Kent. However, Ofgem was inclined to reject this change primarily due to the prohibitive constraint costs associated with necessary network upgrades around Grain.
Consequently, the plans now return the interconnector landfall to between Sizewell and Thorpeness in Suffolk, with connections extending to an as-yet unbuilt substation in Friston. Despite endorsement by National Grid and Ofgem for these changes, Suffolk County Council openly opposed them, citing significant concerns over the potential adverse impacts on the county’s environment and communities. This opposition comes amid other projects such as a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) link, the Sea Link, which has also faced public criticism.
Suffolk County Council’s deputy cabinet member for nationally significant infrastructure projects, Richard Rout, expressed growing frustration with the series of energy projects affecting Suffolk, claiming they prioritise cost-saving over community welfare and environmental preservation. Rout highlighted the fundamental need to balance national energy security requirements against the integrity of local communities and ecosystems. The council intends to thoroughly assess the updated plans, especially in light of its concerns surrounding the Sea Link project.
A further wrinkle involves changes by Belgian authorities regarding the interconnector’s capacity, now reduced from 3.5GW to 1.4GW. This shift, coupled with site alterations, has reportedly halved the constraint costs from an estimated range of £1.3bn to £3.3bn down to £0.5bn to £1.4bn. According to Ofgem, these revisions bolster the project’s feasibility by enhancing its socio-economic benefits. The authority has determined that the revisions necessitate a fresh period of public consultation.
National Grid has articulated a strategic rationale for the revised Suffolk landfall, noting that Friston’s existing electrical capacity will reduce the need for extensive network reinforcements, thereby minimising costs. The ongoing consultation over the Nautilus project is set to conclude by mid-August, with stakeholders anticipating definitive insights into the project’s trajectory by the autumn.
The Nautilus project’s path remains uncertain, as revised plans and community impacts continue to unfold.
