• More than 350km of cabling now laid on vital UK-German energy link

• British and German Ambassadors welcome NeuConnect’s latest milestone as UK and German Governments mark first anniversary of Kensington Treaty and closer UK-German relations

NeuConnect, the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany, has reached a key milestone with the project’s huge 700km cabling programme reaching the halfway stage. The news comes as NeuConnect marks the third anniversary since major onshore construction work began in July 2023, and also coincides with the first anniversary of the Kensington Treaty, signed by the UK and German Governments in July 2025 to establish closer ties between both countries.

Led by global investors Meridiam, Allianz, Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO, the £2.4bn/€2.8bn NeuConnect project will be one of the world’s largest interconnectors with over 700km of land and subsea cables forming an ‘invisible energy highway’ to connect two of Europe’s largest energy markets for the first time. The new link will allow 1.4GW of electricity – enough to power up to 1.5 million homes – to flow in either direction, helping to boost energy security while also helping to integrate renewable energy sources in the UK and Germany.

Major onshore construction work began in the UK in July 2023 and in Germany in May 2024, with offshore cabling works starting at the end of 2024. As NeuConnect now marks the third anniversary since the start of works, the project continues to make strong progress including:

700km cabling programme reaches halfway stage, with 350km now in place

• Main contractor Prysmian began NeuConnect’s subsea cabling in late 2024 and the latest phase of works earlier this year have seen the
  world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel – the ‘Prysmian Leonardo da Vinci’ – complete works in UK waters, with subsea cabling works continuing into Dutch waters and on towards Germany
• In total, Prysmian have now put more than 350km of offshore and onshore cabling in place as NeuConnect’s huge cabling programme passes the halfway stage

Onshore Converter Stations reach full height with key equipment now in place

• For NeuConnect’s onshore works, Siemens Energy are constructing huge new Converter Stations on the Isle of Grain in Kent, and Wilhelmshaven, Germany to allow NeuConnect to connect into the UK and German electricity grids. Construction of the 24-metre-high and 70-metre-wide converter station buildings in both countries have reached full height, with cladding works well underway
• In another important milestone, earlier this year Siemens Energy completed the delivery of all 14 transformers (7 in each country) to the UK and German Converter Station sites

Preparations for the start of operations gather pace

• Along with construction progress, NeuConnect is also increasingly focused on putting in place key commercial arrangements, IT systems and processes ahead of the start of operations
• Last year, NeuConnect was officially certified as an Independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) by GB energy regulator Ofgem. This was followed by the appointment of market leader JAO as NeuConnect’s provider for auctioning cross-border transmission capacity
• Earlier this year, NeuConnect appointed Supercharge as its Market Integration Platform provider, playing a crucial customer-facing role in NeuConnect’s cross-border operations

British Ambassador to Germany, Andrew Mitchell CMG said: “As we mark the first anniversary of the Kensington Treaty, this project is a clear example of how strong UK-German cooperation delivers real benefits for both our countries. As the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany, NeuConnect will strengthen energy security, deepen our economic partnership, and support our shared climate ambitions. I am encouraged by the progress achieved so far, which demonstrates the value of closer bilateral partnership in the energy sector.” 

German Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Susanne Baumann, said: “NeuConnect reaching half way in its cabling programme is an impressive technical success – and much more than that. It is a vivid example of what the strategic partnership between Germany and the United Kingdom, renewed and strengthened through the Kensington Treaty signed a year ago, can deliver to ensure economic security and promote energy transition. Through projects like NeuConnect it becomes very clear that both is possible at the same time: Achieving climate goals while deepening economic cooperation. This will be to the benefit not only for all of us today but also for future generations.”

NeuConnect Chair Julia Prescot CBE said: “NeuConnect is not only a vital new energy link for Europe but one that is also being delivered at great pace. Reaching the halfway stage in NeuConnect’s huge 700km cabling journey is an important achievement, and a testament to the efforts of our delivery team and contractors, and the continued support from Government and industry partners in the UK and Germany. It is also a fitting milestone as the UK and German Governments mark the first anniversary of the Kensington Treaty, and underlines the important role NeuConnect will play in closer energy, security and economic ties between both countries.”