HVDC Cross-Channel

Cross-Channel Interconnexion France Angleterre
Location
Country	France, United Kingdom
General direction	south-north
From	Bonningues-lès-Calais, France
Passes through	English Channel
To	Sellindge, United Kingdom
Ownership information
Partners	National Grid plc, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
Construction information
Manufacturer of conductor/cable	Areva
Manufacturer of substations	Areva
Construction started	1985
Commissioned	1986
Technical information
Type	submarine cable
Type of current	HVDC
Total length	73 km (45 mi)
Power rating	2,000 MW
AC Voltage	400 kV
DC Voltage	±270 kV
Number of poles	4

The HVDC Cross-Channel (French: Interconnexion France Angleterre) is the high voltage direct current (HVDC) connection that operates under the English Channel between the continental European and British electricity grids.

1961 cable

The first HVDC Cross-Channel went into service in 1961 between static inverter plants at Lydd in England and Echinghen, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, in France. This scheme was equipped with mercury vapour rectifiers. In order to keep the disturbances of the magnetic compasses of passing ships as small as possible, a bipolar cable was used. The cable had a length of 64 kilometres (40 mi) and was operated symmetrically at a voltage of 100 kV and a maximum current of 800 amperes. The maximum transmission power of this cable was 160 megawatts (MW). The cable was built by ABB Group.^{[citation needed]}

1986 cable

Because the first installation did not meet increasing requirements, it was replaced in 1985–1986 by a new HVDC line with a maximum transmission rate of 2,000 MW between France and Great Britain, for which two new static inverter plants were built in Sellindge (UK) and in Bonningues-lès-Calais (Les Mandarins station), near Calais, (France). The cable and substations were built by Areva. This HVDC-link is 73 kilometres (45 mi) long in route, with 70 kilometres (43 mi) between the two ends. The undersea section consists of eight 46 kilometres (29 mi) long 270 kV submarine cables, laid between Folkestone (UK) and Sangatte (France), arranged as two independent bipoles. The landside parts of the link consist of 8 cables with lengths of 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) in England, and 6.35 kilometres (3.95 mi) in France.^{[citation needed]}

Significance

As of 2005 imports of electricity from France have historically accounted for about 5% of electricity available in the UK. Imports through the interconnector have generally been around the highest possible level, given the capacity of the link. In 2006, 97.5% of the energy transfers have been made from France to UK, supplying the equivalent of 3 million English homes. The link availability is around 98%, which is among the best rates in the world. The continued size and duration of this flow is open to some doubt, given the growth in demand in continental Europe for clean electricity, and increasing electricity demand within France.

Sites

Site	Coordinates
Echingen Static Inverter Plant (out of service)	50°41′48″N 1°38′21″E
Lydd Static Inverter Plant (out of service)	50°54′54″N 0°56′50″E
Les Mandarins Static Inverter Plant	50°54′11″N 1°47′5″E
Sellindge Static Inverter Plant	51°6′21″N 0°58′32″E

See Also

• BritNed

External links

• Interconnectors - France, National Grid plc
• Timesonline Story
• http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/CROSS2.htm
• http://web.archive.org/web/20051115122606/www.transmission.bpa.gov/cigresc14/Compendium/Cross2%20Pictures.pdf