Cross-channel electricity link begins full flow
Published
An undersea electricity connection between England and France has become fully operational.
The IFA2 interconnector between Hampshire and Normandy began to flow at full capacity at 11:00 GMT, National Grid said.
The link will deliver 1.2% of Britain's electricity needs, the firm added.
The 1GW connection is a £700m shared investment with French power firm RTE and the UK's fourth power exchange with continental Europe.
image copyrightNational Grid
image captionThe undersea link involved laying 149 miles (240km) of cables
Jon Butterworth, managing director of National Grid Ventures, said the two-way interconnector would typically import cheaper nuclear and renewable electricity from France at first.