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Construction work on the NeuConnect high-voltage submarine link has entered a key phase with the interior and exterior outfitting of its converter stations. The initiative, designed to establish the first direct electrical link between Germany and the United Kingdom, is consolidating after reaching maximum height in the main buildings earlier this year, which measure 24 meters high and 70 meters wide. Under the supervision of main contractor Siemens Energy, the work is progressing toward the installation of fundamental mechanical and electrical systems.
NeuConnect advances in converter station infrastructure
Technical deployment at the British station located on the Isle of Grain includes the placement of transformers weighing more than 200 tons, 7 meters in length and 5 meters in height. Simultaneously, engineering teams are advancing component installation at the Kent site and at the German facility in Wilhelmshaven. Inside the conversion halls, operators are carrying out the assembly of HVAC climate-control ducts, cable ladders and cable trays.
In parallel, execution of exterior work is recording notable progress with the placement of facade cladding, a process nearing completion in the United Kingdom and actively underway in Germany. Likewise, leveling work on internal roadways is being carried out for subsequent asphalting, along with installation of drainage systems and gutters intended to enable comprehensive logistical access to the facilities.
At the alternating-current substation at the German site, lattice-type support towers designed to house essential overhead equipment were erected. According to the company’s chief executive officer, Arnaud Grévoz, marine cabling work has passed the halfway mark, ensuring that construction is proceeding within the planned timelines to begin operations in 2028.
Consequently, the submarine transmission infrastructure will reach a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts, sufficient volume to transfer electricity to 1.5 million homes through bidirectional flow. The project has the financial backing of an international consortium comprising Meridiam, Allianz, Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO.
The construction phase on British soil began in the summer of 2023, while work on German territory started in May 2024. The commissioning of this interconnected network will reinforce energy security and efficiency in electricity distribution between both nations.
Source and photo: NeuConnect
