The UK government has issued a permit for the development of the 2-gigawatt (GW) Sea Link submarine cable for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity connection between Kent and Suffolk.
Details of the Sea Link Project
The Sea Link project is expected to enter the construction phase in early 2027 and is considered one of the key infrastructure projects in the National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) upgrade plan. The aim of this plan is to significantly increase electricity transmission capacity in the UK.
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This 2-gigawatt project will have converter stations in Suffolk and Kent, connected by a 140-kilometer submarine cable with a voltage of 525 kilovolts that will pass through the North Sea and the Thames estuary. This project will be capable of generating enough electricity to power 2 million homes.
The Role of the UK Department of Energy
The UK Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, highlighted the importance of this project, stating: "The future of the UK depends on rebuilding the national grid so that renewable energy and businesses can connect and stimulate economic growth while reducing our dependence on global fossil fuel markets that drive up costs."
He added: "By redesigning the UK, we are sending local energy where it is needed, ensuring that the grid is resilient for the future and sustainably reducing costs."
Additionally, the UK government's social benefits plan will be implemented by the National Grid Electricity Transmission, allocating over one million pounds (approximately 1.2 million euros) for social funding in Kent and Suffolk.
By the end of 2025, Sumitomo Electric Industries will have signed a contract to supply and install 140 kilometers of submarine cable for this electricity connection. The HVDC cable with a voltage of 525 kilovolts will be produced at the company's submarine cable factory in Port Neig, Scotland.
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