TEPCO Power Grid is set to participate in the NeuConnect project – the first UK-Germany subsea interconnector – as it has entered into a share purchase agreement with the shareholders of FI1 Limited, a minority shareholder in the project.
TEPCO Power Grid signed the agreement with the shareholders via TEPCO Power Grid UK Limited for the acquisition of FI1, which has minority stakes in the company managing the construction and operation of the NeuConnect interconnector project.
This will be the second global power transmission business investment for TEPCO Power Grid, following the Triton Knoll offshore electricity transmission project, which was announced in November 2021.
NeuConnect, the 1.4 GW interconnector is a privately-financed project led by investors Meridiam,Allianz Capital Partners andKansai Electric Power.
The €2.8billion project will see two new HVDC converter stations built on the Isle of Grain in south-eastern England and in Wilhelmshaven, in northern Germany, connected by over 700km of subsea cables.
Siemens is the contractor for the converter stations and Prysmianwill manufacture and installthe cable.
Sumitomo Electric was appointed as a subcontractor to supply a section of 525 kV HVDC mass-impregnated cable to Prysmian.
The newly-formed joint venture between built environment consultancy Arup and German engineering firm Fichtnet will provide project and commercial management, SHEQ and consenting oversight for the project.
Works will start on site in the UK and Germany later this year, with major construction to lay subsea cables and build substations starting next year.
Financial close for the projectwas reached last monthand commercial operations are expected by 2028.
NeuConnect is expected to enable UK and Germany to flexibly exchange power from diverse sources with fluctuating output, such as wind and solar, thereby further accelerating the spread of renewable energies.
In addition, it will make a significant contribution to enhancing energy resilience and energy security in both countries since it will aid the exchange of power in times of emergency.
Finally, the project will deliver a netreduction in carbon emissionsof 16 MtCO2 over 25 years to support the German, UK and European net-zero goals.
