This week marks 1 year since major construction began on the £2.4bn/€2.8bn NeuConnect project, with good progress helping to keep the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany firmly on track.

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 Wilhelmshaven 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, boosting energy security and resilience while also helping to integrate renewable energy sources in the UK and Germany.

The delivery of the NeuConnect project has built up strong momentum over the last 12 months including:

JULY 2023 – MAJOR CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN THE UK

July last year saw major construction begin on the NeuConnect project – the project’s Isle of Grain site in the UK saw the start of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) works that will allow the subsea cables to be brought on-land.

NOVEMBER 2023 – FIRST PHASE OF UK CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED

By November, the HDD works had been finished with more than 1.2km of underground ducts installed, completing NeuConnect’s first phase of construction on schedule.

MAY 2024 – CONSTRUCTION STARTS IN GERMANY & NEXT STAGE OF UK WORKS BEGIN

In May, an official ground-breaking ceremony was held at NeuConnect’s site in Wilhelmshaven, ahead of the start of major construction in Germany. Meanwhile in the UK, NeuConnect moved into the next stage of construction, with the start of foundation works on a new UK converter station.

 JULY 2024 – NEUCONNECT COMMUNITY FUND LAUNCHED IN UK

With major construction underway, NeuConnect is committed to being a ‘good neighbour’ to local communities and launched ‘The NeuConnect Community Fund’ to provide financial support to local projects in the UK and Germany. Earlier this month the first UK project was selected with funds awarded to Isle of Grain Parish Council to help carry out repairs and improvements to the roof of Grain Village Hall – the main community building in the village.

LATE 2024 AND EARLY 2025 – UK CABLING WORKS DUE TO START

The second half of 2024 will see foundation works continuing on the new UK and German Converter Stations, with onshore and offshore cabling works in the UK also due to start later this year – the start of cabling works will be another important and symbolic milestone as a new energy link between the UK and Germany begins to take shape.

Julia Prescot, Chair of NeuConnect said:

“Since major construction began last summer, we have seen a year of important progress on NeuConnect, helping to keep this vital new energy link firmly on track. Projects like NeuConnect will play an essential role in Net Zero and energy security goals, so we look forward to working in partnership with the UK and German Governments and at great pace with our industry partners to connect two of Europe’s largest energy markets for the first time.”

The NeuConnect project is expected to be operational by 2028. For further information on NeuConnect, please visit neuconnect-interconnector.com.