Frequently Asked Questions 1

What are interconnectors and how do they work?

A)  Interconnectors are the physical links which allow the transfer of electricity from one country to another.  These transmission cables provide the means for electricity to flow across borders, with power flowing to the market that has high demand and therefore higher prices.

Great Britain (GB) already has four of them, linking GB to France, Ireland, The Netherlands and Northern Ireland. These links total 4GW, and represent around 5% of existing electricity generation capacity.

Norway has interconnectors through overhead lines to Sweden, Finland and Russia, and via subsea cables to Denmark and the Netherlands. In addition to the North Sea Link to the UK, a new interconnector between Norway and Germany is currently under construction.