Labour presses ahead with £350million undersea cable as Net Zero costs mount

An undersea cable that could power the equivalent of two million homes has been given the green light by Government.

The Sea Link power cable will run between Suffolk and Kent and will be able to carry up to two gigawatts of electricity from generators to homes.

It is hoped that it will ease pressure on the grid and lower curtailment payments – made when generators are paid not to create power because the grid cannot dispatch it.

The National Grid project will include an 86-mile subsea electricity cable as well as converter stations in both counties to connect it into the existing electricity transmission network.

Officials also said National Grid will ensure community funds in Kent and Suffolk receive more than £1million each, meaning the areas hosting the new infrastructure get support for local priorities such as improving local facilities, enhancing green spaces and developing skills.

Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “Britain’s future rests on rebuilding the national grid so renewable energy and businesses can connect, driving economic growth and reducing our exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets which are driving up all our bills.

“By rewiring Britain, we get homegrown power to where it’s needed, we make sure the grid is resilient for the future and we bring bills down for good.”

The project’s subsea cable will be manufactured in the UK at Sumitomo Electric’s new £350million factory in Scotland.

Adrian Pierssene, project director for Sea Link at National Grid, said: “This decision is an important step forward for Sea Link and for the electricity network in England and Wales.

“As homes, transport and businesses use more electricity, demand is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

“Sea Link will help the network carry more secure and home-grown power to where it is needed. It will also support the jobs, skills, and supply chain needed to deliver the great grid upgrade.”

He added: “Our focus now is on detailed delivery planning, working closely with local partners and keeping communities informed before and during construction.”

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The decision follows the approval of a major solar farm in Nottinghamshire.

The Great North Road Solar and Biodiversity Park, near Newark, will have a generating capacity of 800MW – enough to power the equivalent of around 400,000 homes a year, according to the developer.

The project will be the joint biggest solar farm in the country by generating capacity, alongside Springwell Solar Farm in Lincolnshire, which was approved earlier this year.