© BMWK
Construction of the German-British electricity link begins
Baubeginn bei NeuConnect in Wilhelmshaven
Some 700 kilometres worth of sea cable will soon connect the German shoreline near Wilhelmshaven to the UK, thus connecting the two countries’ electricity markets. The objective of this is to optimise the use of renewables, explains Federal Minister Habeck. The cable, which will run across UK, Dutch and German territory, will connect the planned Isle of Grain transformer station in Kent with the Fedderwarden transformer station in Wilhelmshaven. Its capacity of 1.4 GW will be sufficient to supply up to 1.5 million households. Operations are due to begin in 2028. The German section of the cable is roughly 193 kilometres long, comprising a submarine subsection below the North Sea and an underground subsection on shore. This electricity link will make an important contribution to decarbonisation whilst also helping to guarantee a stable cross-border energy supply. At the end of 2023, both countries reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate on a secure, clean and affordable energy supply. The UK is planning to expand its installed offshore wind power capacity to 50 Gigawatts by 2030.