The 1,400 MW North Sea Link (NSL) interconnector that links the UK and Norway has paid off its carbon cost of construction after operating for six months, said the UK National Grid, which operates the project together with the Norwegian Statnett.
This first power interconnector between Norway and the UK recently started regular operations after one year of trial operation.
During the trial year, 4,6 TWh was exported from Norway to the UK, while imports from the UK to Norway totaled 1,1 TWh so far.
NSL #interconnector just celebrated its 1st Birthday, and what a year it’s been:
?800,000 tonnes of carbon saved
? Paying off the carbon cost of construction in 6 months
⚡️4.6 TWh+ clean energy imported to ?? from ??
? Enough to power 1.5M average UK homes throughout the year pic. /LFySdGSQ91
— National Grid (@nationalgrid) October 21, 2022
According to Statnett, the interconnector mostly exported electricity from Norway to the UK for the first months, but since May the flow direction changed, with more imports to Norway.
Over the last three months, export and import have been at equal levels.
North Sea Linkruns between the Suldal municipality in Norway and the Newcastle area in England.
The 720-kilometer interconnectorwas completedin early June 2021 and on 18 June transmission between Norway and the UK was tested for the first time.
The €1.6 billion projectwas commisionedon1 October 2021.
Hitachi Energy, which designed, engineered, supplied and commissioned the enabling technology for the interconnector, handed over the project to Statnett and the UK National Grid last week.
