# List of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom

The following is a list of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom, including some under construction or proposed.

## The rise of UK interconnection

The main direction of the UK interconnectors is into the UK electricity market. During 2021, interconnectors provided 28 TWh of electricity to the UK, which equates to 10% of total demand, whilst in 2009 this figure was 7 TWh.
Interconnectors allow the trade of electricity between countries with excess generation (for example, intermittent renewable) and those with high demand. Interconnectors play a key part in balancing variable renewable generation, for example the 1.4 GW North Sea Link allows the UK to export excess power to Norway during windy periods to conserve Norwegian hydro stocks and import Norwegian hydro power on less windy days.
However, during the 2022 energy crisis, the UK exported record amounts of power to mainland Europe, helping to alleviate the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on European security of supply.

## International links
### Operational

| Name | Developers | Substation UK | Substation 2 | Length (km) | Voltage (kV) | Power (MW) | Operational | Remarks |
| HVDC Cross-Channel | National Grid Interconnectors and RTE | Sellindge | Bonningues-lès-Calais | 73 | ±270 | 2,000 | 1986 | submarine HVDC |
| BritNed | National Grid Interconnectors and TenneT | Isle of Grain | Maasvlakte | 260 | 450 | 1,000 | 2011 | submarine HVDC |
| East–West Interconnector | EirGrid Interconnector Designated Activity Company | Shotton, Flintshire | Rush, Dublin | 261 | ±200 | 500 | 2012 | submarine HVDC |
| Nemo Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Elia | Richborough | Zeebrugge | 140 | 400 | 1,000 | 2019 | submarine HVDC |
| IFA-2 | National Grid Interconnectors and RTE | Lee-on-the-Solent | Tourbe, France | 204 | ±320 | 1,000 | 2021 | submarine HVDC |
| North Sea Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Statnett | Blyth, Northumberland | Kvilldal | 720 | ±515 | 1,400 | 2021 | submarine HVDC |
| ElecLink | Getlink | Folkestone | Peuplingues | 51 | ±320 | 1,000 | 2022 | Channel Tunnel HVDC |
| Viking Link | National Grid Interconnectors and Energinet | Bicker Fen | Revsing, Jutland | 765 | 525 | 1,400 | 2023 | submarine HVDC |
| Greenlink | Element Power & Partners Group | Pembroke | Great Island | 190 | 320 | 500 | 25 January 2025 | submarine HVDC |
| Total | | | | | | 9,800 | | |

### Proposed

| Name | Developers | Substation UK | Substation 2 | Length (km) | Voltage (kV) | Power (MW) | Operational | Remarks |
| NeuConnect | Meridiam, Allianz and Kansai Electric Power | Isle of Grain | Wilhelmshaven | 725 | 525 | 1,400 | 2028 (under construction) | submarine HVDC |
| Gridlink Interconnector | GridLink Interconnector Ltd | Kingsnorth | Warande | 140 | 525 | 1,400 | 2027 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project | Xlinks Ltd | Alverdiscott | Tan-Tan | 3,800 | ±(TBD) | 3,600 | 2029 (proposed) | submarine, dual HVDC |
| FAB Link | RTE and FAB Link Limited | Exeter Airport | L'Étang-Bertrand (lieu-dit Menuel) | 220 | ±320 | 1,250 | 2030/31 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| AQUIND | AQUIND Limited | Lovedean | Barnabos | 240 | ±320 | 2,000 | 2026 (proposed) | submarine HVDC |
| LionLink | National Grid Ventures and TenneT | Walberswick | TBD | TBD | TBD | 1,800 | 2030+ (proposed) | submarine HVDC with ability to connect to offshore wind farms |
| Nautilus | National Grid Ventures and Elia | TBD. Most likely: Friston, Suffolk or Isle of Grain | TBD | TBD | TBD | 1,400 | 2028 (proposed) | submarine HVDC with ability to connect to offshore wind farms |

## National links

Per the below list, the United Kingdom has, as of 2023, a national interconnector capacity of 3,950 MW.
| Name | Developers | Substation 1 | Substation 2 | Length (km) | Voltage (kV) | Power (MW) | Operational | Remarks |
| Moyle Interconnector | Mutual Energy | Auchencrosh, South Ayrshire | Ballycronan More | 63.5 | 250 | 500 | 2001 | submarine HVDC |
| Caithness - Moray Link | Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks | Caithness | Moray | 160 | 320 | 1,200 | 2019 | submarine HVDC |
| Western HVDC Link | National Grid plc and ScottishPower Transmission | Hunterston | Flintshire Bridge | 422 | 600 | 2,250 | 2019 | submarine HVDC |
| Shetland HVDC Connection | Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission | Upper Kergord Valley, Shetland | Caithness HVDC switching station, near Wick | 260 | 320 | 600 | 2024 | submarine HVDC |