Intertek has supported National Grid and Statnett in the development of an infrastructure project linking the UK and Norwegian electricity networks (NSN Link) which, when constructed, will be the world’s longest high voltage direct current (HVDC) undersea interconnector.
For the past four years, Intertek has acted as marine consultants for the two companies in the NSN project that culminated in successful UK marine consent for the venture in late 2014. National Grid and Statnett recently announced their final investment decision for developing the NSN, a 730-kilometre 1,400 MW power cable link between UK and Norway. The interconnector is planned to be completed by 2021. Once operational, it will supply nearly 750,000 homes in the UK with low-carbon electricity.
Mark Pearce , National Grid’s NSN Link Planning & Consents Manager, said: “We would like to thank Intertek for its sterling efforts on the project and the professionalism and commitment of the team in helping achieve key milestones on the way to the positive investment decision.”
Frank Beiboer , Managing Director of Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services, said: “At Intertek, we are very proud of our successful 15-year track record with National Grid involving various interconnector projects and of our key role in helping a project as challenging as NSN through its development phase.”
Intertek’s specialist technical services and marine planning advice for the NSN project included cable routing constraints and feasibility studies, route engineering, survey management, environmental assessment and stakeholder engagement.