Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid Nautilus Interconnector Proposed by National Grid Ventures April 2021 1 National Grid I April 2021 Nautilus Interconnector Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid Introducing Nautilus North Sea Link: Interconnector 1.4 GW Under construction Live 2021 GB and Norway At National Grid Ventures (NGV), we are bringing National Grid Ventures (NGV) forward plans for Nautilus, a new interconnector Proposals for Nautilus are being developed by in East Suffolk that could supply enough NGV and our respective joint venture partner in electricity to power around 1.4 million UK Belgium, Elia. Viking Link: 1.4 GW homes. Under construction Nautilus could connect 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of NGV is the competitive division of National Grid. It Live 2023 offshore wind to the transmission systems of Great operates outside of National Grid’s core regulated GB and Denmark Britain and Belgium through a sub-sea electricity businesses in the UK and US where it develops cable called an interconnector. The project would and operates energy projects, technologies and include underground cabling works and onshore partnerships to make energy cleaner, more secure infrastructure, which would be located in East Suffolk. and more affordable for consumers. We are also bringing forward proposals for a second There are three distinct business entities under the BritNed: 1 GW interconnector in East Suffolk, currently known as umbrella of National Grid plc in the UK, as detailed Operational EuroLink. Both projects are early in their respective in the diagram below, all with different roles and Live 2011 feasibility stages, and EuroLink is currently less responsibilities. The separation between NGV GB and Netherlands advanced than Nautilus. You can read more about and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) Nemo: 1 GW EuroLink on Page 11. stipulates that NGV is treated the same way as any Operational This Project Update has been produced to other energy project promoter. Live 2019 provide you with the latest information on Nautilus GB and Belgium Interconnector, and to let you know what we have IFA: 2 GW planned for 2021. Operational IFA2: 1 GW Live 1986 Operational GB and France Live 2021 GB and France Electricity Transmission Electricity System Operator National Grid Ventures Owns and manages the high Ensures that Great Britain has the Operates a mix of energy voltage electricity transmission essential energy it needs by making assets and businesses to help system in England and Wales. sure supply meets demand every accelerate the development second of every day. of our clean energy future (eg, undersea electricity interconnectors with other countries and European 9.8 GW transmission partners). interconnector capacity already operational or under construction in the UK, of which 7.8 GW is jointly owned by National Grid. 2 3 National Grid I April 2021 Nautilus Interconnector Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid Connecting for a cleaner future Electricity interconnectors are the perfect tool The UK Government recognises the value of Nautilus will: to deliver a cleaner, more secure and affordable interconnectors in keeping supplies secure, reducing energy system for consumers. By 2030 around costs to consumers, and providing long-term 90% of electricity imported to Great Britain will sustainability. There is also a clear benefit to the UK Help to increase efficiency across be from zero-carbon sources. Interconnectors economy in terms of skilled jobs, investment in clean Europe and reduce reliance upon oil are helping to create a smarter energy system by energy and the ability to export electricity in support of and gas imports by providing 1.4 GW transporting low carbon electricity from where it economic growth. of flexible capacity between the GB and is produced, to where it is consumed. Belgian networks. Sub-sea cables, sharing energy between the UK and Europe, have helped to lower electricity prices, Increase security of supply by ensuring increase the security of supply and stabilise energy in energy flows between Britain and the GB transmission network. Belgium from where it is being generated Connecting to other energy systems reduces the in large quantities to where it is needed need to build new infrastructure and is a quick way most. to access affordable, low carbon electricity, while offering a market to export excess renewable energy generated in the UK. Provide access to more affordable energy for UK consumers. NGV onshore NGV onshore and European converter station NGET substation converter station sub-sea HVDC cables and underground cable European substation NGV underground HVAC cables Import and export of power 4 5 National Grid I April 2021 Nautilus Interconnector Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid The vision for Multi-Purpose Interconnectors Instead of individual wind farms connecting one by one to the The next generation onshore network, MPIs would allow offshore wind farms to be connected offshore through the MPI. of interconnectors At present, offshore wind and interconnectors operate alongside each other. MPIs will enable offshore wind and interconnection to work together. This will help to: Building on our experience as one of the World’s • Support the UK’s ambition to meet 2030 and 2050 leading developers of sub-sea interconnectors, climate targets. we have been working closely with our partners, Elia, to develop a vision for Multi-Purpose • Reduce impacts on coastal communities with fewer Interconnectors (MPI), the next generation of individual connections and less construction works needed. interconnector technology. • Provide significant cost reductions and minimise environmental impacts by using shared assets and clusters of connections. Listening and responding to the local community • Combine the delivery of low carbon energy created in the North Sea by offshore wind and other technologies in In 2019, we commenced engagement with local councils, parish and town councils and Europe. community groups across East Suffolk. It was • Make greater use of the cables and buildings required to clear that there is a strong desire for increased connect renewable electricity, reducing the impact on our coordination and cooperation between energy environment – both onshore and offshore. developers in the region. We have listened to this feedback, and as a result, we are developing our vision for a new generation of interconnectors – the MPI solution. To make this become a reality, above all, we need to take a We heard how host communities are supportive of coordinated approach, ensuring all stakeholders collaborate. renewable energy and combatting climate change, This includes: but the current approach is not working for them or their local environment. Our vision for the MPI solution seeks to address this by supporting the delivery of • Working with the UK government and Ofgem as part of the offshore wind whilst reducing the impact on coastal Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) to influence communities. emerging policy on MPIs. • Support and input from the offshore wind and interconnector community. • Support and input from High-Voltage Direct Current (HDVC) technology providers and the total supply chain. Read more about how MPIs could help Great Britain unlock the potential of offshore wind by visiting nationalgrid.com/mpi 6 7 National Grid I April 2021 Nautilus Interconnector Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid Today: offshore wind and Tomorrow: offshore wind and interconnectors connect interconnectors in harmony separately At present, offshore wind and interconnectors operate alongside each other. In the future, MPIs could enable offshore wind and interconnection to work together as a combined asset. Offshore wind turbines generate medium-voltage AC power. HVDC platform converts AC power from several substation platforms to DC for transmission. Converter stations on Sub-sea cables transport land at each end of the electricity as high-voltage connection transform direct direct current (HVDC) current into alternating between connected current so that it can be fed countries. This minimises into the high-voltage grid. energy loss. Wind farms connect to these offshore converter stations, potentially linking A converter station on clusters of windfarms into land transforms the current a single connection point. An offshore converter back into alternating station transforms the current to feed into the alternating current into high-voltage grid. direct current, enabling it to pass through the HVDC cable. 8 9 National Grid I April 2021 Nautilus Interconnector Nautilus Interconnector April 2021 I National Grid About the projects Nautilus Interconnector Why was East Suffolk chosen? EuroLink Nautilus will transport clean energy under the North We applied for connection points for Nautilus and We are also bringing forward proposals for another Sea to East Suffolk via high voltage sub-sea cables. EuroLink to National Grid ESO. National Grid ESO interconnector, currently known as EuroLink, to These will come ashore at a point known as ‘landfall’ then undertook an appraisals process to identify provide a connection between Great Britain and the and be buried underground before connecting into a point of connection on its network for each Netherlands that could provide enough electricity to an onshore converter station and then, via a NGET application, which included an assessment of supply around 1.4 to 1.8 million UK homes. substation, to