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BritNed

The BritNed cable connects the Dutch and British energy markets.

Location
Great Britain, Netherlands
Type
Interconnection
Category
offshore
Status
finished
Tags
  • BritNed
Overview of the interconnector station (BritNed)

260 kilometres cable

This two-way 1,000 MW high-voltage direct current connection has a length of 260 km and runs from the Isle of Grain (in Kent) to Maasvlakte (near Rotterdam). The operational and technical management of the cable is in the hands of BritNed Development Ltd, a joint venture of British energy company National Grid and TenneT subsidiary NLink International. 

This connection is part of a major Anglo-Dutch investment programme to ensure continuing security and diversity of supply and stimulate the use of sustainable electricity. The interconnector also contributes to a more open electricity market, providing greater import and export opportunities for the future. 

Trade

Electricity has been traded on the BritNed-cable since 2011. Market participants access the interconnector capacity through a combination of explicit and implicit auctions. Power flows are driven by factors such as supply, demand and prices in each market. The implicit auctions are facilitated by the APX energy exchange, now merged with EPEX SPOT. Explicit auctions are carried out via BritNed Development’s own auction system, Kingdom®. This approach gives market parties more choice in how they bid on capacity, contributing to greater transparency on European electricity markets.

Commercial cable

BritNed is a commercial interconnector, which means it is funded and operated independently from our regulated business. TenneT and National Grid are jointly responsible for the investment and the risks.

Read more

Visit the BritNed website

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  • Inside the BritNed interconnector converter station

    Inside the BritNed interconnector converter station

  • A colleague at work adjusting the cable sockets at the BritNed interconnector

    A colleague at work adjusting the cable sockets at the BritNed interconnector

  • Birdseye overview of the construction work on the BritNed interconnector

    Birdseye overview of the construction work on the BritNed interconnector

  • A safety helmet with the BritNed logo

    Safety equipment with the BritNed logo

  • Colleague at work at the BritNed controller station

    Colleague at work at the BritNed controller station

  • Close-up of a cable socket at the BritNed station

    Close-up of a cable socket at the BritNed station

  • Overview of the BritNed station

    Overview of the BritNed station

  • Colleagues at work on cables and sockets of the BritNed interconnector

    Colleagues at work on cables and sockets of the BritNed interconnector

  • Colleague at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

    Colleague at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

  • Colleagues at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

    Colleagues at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

  • Colleagues at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

    Colleagues at work at the transformer station of the BritNed interconnector

  • Clear skies over the BritNed interconnector

    Clear skies over the BritNed interconnector

  • A control panel on the BritNed platform

    A control panel on the BritNed platform

Contacts

Jeroen Brouwers

Jeroen Brouwers

Media Relations

Mediarelaties

+31 (0)26 373 26 00
press(at)tennet.eu
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Service Center

TenneT Netherlands

For questions about the project. 

0800 836 63 88
servicecenter(at)tennet.eu

NorNed

The Dutch and Norwegian electricity grids have been interconnected by the NorNed cable since 2008. The NorNed cable is 580 km long and has a capacity of 700 MW, making TenneT and our Norwegian counterpart Statnett the joint owners of the world’s longest subsea high-voltage direct current cable link.

COBRAcable

The COBRAcable will have a capacity of approx. 700 MW, will be around 325 kilometres long, and will run from Eemshaven (the Netherlands) to Endrup (Denmark) via the German sector of the North Sea. Two onshore converter stations – one in the Netherlands and one in Denmark – are needed to connect the cable to the existing grids.

NordLink

The exchange of power enabled by NordLink will increase security of supply for the German and Norwegian grid and will allow exchange of renewable energies, especially hydroelectric power and wind power, between both countries. In addition it will give more stable electricity prices on both sides and, further on, also will facilitate European market integration.