The National Grid has announced contracts totalling €1.5 billion have been awarded to build the world's longest electricity interconnector.

The NSN link project is a joint venture between National Grid and Statnett SF. It will be the first electricity link between the UK and Norway.

The contract was awarded to two cable suppliers, Prysmian and Nexans, to deliver the cable needed for the 740 kilometre route length.

The converter stations in both UK and Norway will be delivered by ABB, the power technology specialist.

The new interconnector will contribute to increased production and use of renewable energy on both sides and will have a capacity of 1400MW.

The project comprises a 730 kilometres subsea HVDC system with cables which will be the longest of its type in the world, with a ten kilometre onshore route.

With twin cabling the total length required is approximately 1450kms of cable.

It will run from Blyth in Northumberland on the UK side to Kvilldal in Rogaland on the Norwegian side.

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Prysmian will supply and install 950km of submarine and land cables for the UK and Norwegian North Sea sections of the route.

The cables will be manufactured at the company's Arco Felice factory in Naples, using its own cable laying vessel 'Giulio Verne'.

Nexans will supply the fjord, tunnell and lake sections, along with the onshore connection in Norway.

It will design and manufacture some 500km of HVDC cables at its Halden plant.

The cables will be laid by Nexans' own cable-laying vessel, 'C/S Nexans Skagerrak' and protected on the seabed by trenching with the company's Capjet system and rock dumping.

ABB will supply the high voltage direct current converter stations at the UK and Norwegian ends of the link.

It will design, supply and commission the converter stations using its HVDC Light Technology.

Alan Foster, National Grid's director of European Business Development, said: "There is a huge programme of work for us to undertake over the next five years to deliver what will be the world’s longest interconnector.  Our contractors will have a big part to play in that successful delivery. But the benefits to both UK and Norway are also huge and when completed the link will deliver low carbon electricity for the UK and also add to security of supply for Norwegian consumers."

Håkon Borgen, Executive Vice President of Statnett, said: "This project is an important part of Europe's future electricity system and we are very pleased to have these contractors aboard. Now we can go further in building the world's longest interconnector and we expect to see an efficient and qualified execution of the project, with focus on health, security and environment."

The link is expected to be in operation by 2021.

(LM/MH)