The project involved forming a new electric interconnector cable between France and the UK. It was developed by IFA2 SAS, a joint venture between National Grid IFA2 Ltd- part of National Grid UK – and RTE of France.
The 1GW IFA2 project is part of National Grid upgrade works. Morgan Sindall was retained by ABB to assist with building one of two high-voltage direct current HVDC (high-voltage direct current) converter stations, which link with a sub-sea cable. They convert direct current electricity (DC) which is used to carry power between the countries into alternating current (AC) electricity which we use in our homes.
This interconnection project further integrates the UK and French electricity markets. With a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, the link runs from Chilling, Hampshire, on the southern coast of England to Tourbein northern France, covering a distance of 240 kilometers across the English Channel.
