NeuConnect continues strong construction progress as project celebrates 6th anniversary
This week marks the 6th anniversary since NeuConnect Britain Ltd was established to deliver a vital new energy link between the UK and Germany – the anniversary comes as NeuConnect continues to make strong construction progress, with enabling works for a new UK converter station now nearing completion.
Led by global investors Meridiam, Allianz Capital Partners, Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO, NeuConnect will become one of the world’s largest interconnectors – new converter stations will be built on the Isle of Grain in Kent and the Wilhelmshaven region in northern Germany, connected by 725km of land and subsea cables to form an ‘invisible energy highway’, connecting two of Europe’s largest energy markets for the first time. The new link will allow 1.4GW of electricity to flow in either direction, helping to boost energy security and resilience while also helping to integrate renewable energy sources in the UK and Germany.
Since NeuConnect Britain Ltd was established, followed by sister company NeuConnect Deutschland GmbH & Co, KG, huge progress has been made over the last 6 years including:
2018-2019 – Company set up; Seabed surveys completed; Planning and procurement begins
- The set-up of NeuConnect Britain Ltd in February 2018 was quickly followed by the completion of over 700km of seabed surveys to help establish the exact subsea route of the project;
- In 2019, NeuConnect launched a major procurement process together with the submission of UK planning applications;
2020-2021 – New energy laws secured; Support from Prime Minister and German Chancellor
- 2020 and 2021 saw NeuConnect secure vital regulatory measures from UK energy regulator Ofgem and entirely new energy laws established in Germany
- Recognising the importance of the project, in 2021 the British Prime Minister and German Chancellor outlined their support for NeuConnect and the important new links it will create between both countries
2022-2023 – Financial Close achieved; Major construction begins; Royal endorsement
- In 2022, the £2.4bn project reached Financial Close with a global consortium of banks
- In summer 2023, cabling contractor Prysmianstarted major construction work at the Isle of Grain site in the UK, with the first phase of UK works completed on schedule by the end of the year
- 2023 also saw NeuConnect endorsed by His Majesty The King and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a historic Royal State visit to Germany
2024 – Continued UK construction progress; Major works in Germany to start this year
- Early 2024 has seen a further progress in NeuConnect’s delivery, with enabling works for the UK converter station now nearing completion by Siemens Energy and sub-contractor Jones Bros Civil Engineering
- The works have included the construction of a 50,000m2 platform for the new converter station and two attenuation ponds to support drainage. Some 45,000m3 of on-site material has been recycled, helping minimise the amount of new material needed and reduce construction traffic on local roads. With enabling works nearing completion, construction of the UK converter station will start in the coming months.
- In Germany, enabling works at NeuConnect’s site in Wilhelmshaven are also making good progress with major construction on track to start later this year.
Julia Prescot, Chair of the NeuConnect Board and Partner at lead investor Meridiam, said:
“There is no time to lose in the race to net zero, so NeuConnect is not only a vital energy project for Europe but one that is being delivered at great speed. In the 6 years since we established NeuConnect Britain Ltd, we have turned a ‘line on a map’ into a fully financed scheme, with construction well underway and the first UK-German energy link starting to take shape. As we mark our 6th anniversary, the strong construction progress will help keep up the momentum as we bring this important new link ever closer.”