BritNed
Encyclopedia
BritNed is a high-voltage direct-current
(HVDC) submarine power cable
between the Isle of Grain
in Kent
, the United Kingdom, and Maasvlakte
in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands.
, while the BAM Nuttall/Siemens
consortium was responsible for the construction and equipping of the converter stations. BritNed was completed on time and within the budget of € 600 million.
s of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, National Grid plc
and TenneT
, formed a joint venture that funded and operates the interconnection, independently from National Grid and TenneT's regulated businesses.
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
(HVDC) submarine power cable
Submarine power cable
Submarine power cables are major transmission cables for carrying electric power below the surface of the water. These are called "submarine" because they usually carry electric power beneath salt water but it is also possible to use submarine power cables beneath fresh water...
between the Isle of Grain
Isle of Grain
The Isle of Grain, in the north of Kent, England, is the easternmost point of the Hoo Peninsula. No longer an island, the Isle is almost all marshland and the Grain Marshes are an important habitat for birdlife...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, the United Kingdom, and Maasvlakte
Maasvlakte
The Maasvlakte is part of Europoort, a harbour and industrial area near the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.-Creation:It was created in the 1960s by reclaiming land from the North Sea through dykes and sand suppletion. The sand for the suppletion was largely taken from the North Sea and the...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands.
History
The project was announced in May 2007. The installation of the first section of cable link started on 11 September 2009, whilst the entire 260 km (161.6 mi) cable was completed in October 2010. It has been taken into operation on 1 April 2011.Technical description
The 260 kilometres (161.6 mi) long bi-pole 450 kV interconnector consists of two HVDC cables, which are bundled together. The capacity of the cable is 1000 MW. The interconnector has two converter stations for connecting the link with the British and Dutch high-voltage electricity transmission systems. The cable was produced by ABB and laid by Global Marine SystemsGlobal Marine Systems
Global Marine Systems is a specialist-shipping company that installs, maintains and repairs submarine communications and power cables.- History :...
, while the BAM Nuttall/Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
consortium was responsible for the construction and equipping of the converter stations. BritNed was completed on time and within the budget of € 600 million.
Operators
The transmission system operatorTransmission system operator
File:Electricity grid simple- North America.svg|thumb|380px|right|Simplified diagram of AC electricity distribution from generation stations to consumersrect 2 243 235 438 Power stationrect 276 317 412 556 Transformer...
s of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, National Grid plc
National Grid plc
National Grid plc is a multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its principal activities are in the United Kingdom and northeastern United States and it is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world.National Grid is listed on...
and TenneT
TenneT
TenneT B.V. is the national electricity transmission system operator of the Netherlands, headquartered in Arnhem. Controlled and owned by the Dutch government, it is responsible for overseeing the operation of the 380 and 220 kV high-voltage grid throughout the Netherlands and its...
, formed a joint venture that funded and operates the interconnection, independently from National Grid and TenneT's regulated businesses.
Coordinates
| Site | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Grain Static Inverter Plant | 51°26′24"N 0°43′0"E |
| Maasvlakte Static Inverter Plant | 51°57′23"N 4°1′17"E |