AQUIND agrees with the National Infrastructure Commission view that “the Government should ensure that the current pipeline [of interconnector projects] is not affected by the UK’s exit from the EU.”

Interconnectors such as AQUIND help resolve the Energy Trilemma by improving competition, increasing the security of supply and allowing efficient renewable integration. All these elements are critical as the UK transits from coal powered generation to renewable sources of energy.

AQUIND believes the government should do more to support interconnector project development by ensuring that the post-Brexit UK remains inside the European Internal Electricity Market. This would enable frictionless transfer of electricity across Europe based on the common rules and regulations which took the industry and the Member States, including the UK, over a decade to agree and implement.

Energy should be at the forefront of UK Government’s Brexit negotiations. Failure to reach an agreement would be a considerable backward step for the country’s clean energy, environmental and climate change ambitions.

Note to editors:

AQUIND Interconnector is a proposed new subsea and underground High Voltage Direct Current power transmission link between the South Coast of England and Normandy in France. With the capacity of 2,000 MW, AQUIND Interconnector will improve security of supply, help foster greater renewable power integration and make the national grids more robust by supplying them with vital ancillary services. The project is fully private and is being developed without any government subsidies.