A milestone has been reached on a project to build a 1,000MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between England and France.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has issued a comprehensive decision for the Interconnexion France-Angleterre (IFA2) project under the TEN-E Regulations, after it attained all of the required statutory consents in UK consenting regime.

The IFA2 scheme involves National Grid IFA2 working with RTE to develop a 1,000MW HVDC electrical interconnector between Hampshire in England to Normandy in France.

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By connecting the electricity systems of Great Britain and France, the scheme aims to reduce the cost of electricity for homes and businesses in Great Britain, as well as increasing security of electricity supplies for both countries.

In addition, it will open up new opportunities for shared use of renewable energy and help both countries to meet domestic and international renewable and climate change targets.

MMO Senior Marine Licensing Manager Matthew Kinmond said: "This is the first comprehensive decision from the MMO under the TEN-E Regulations and the first in the UK for a cross-border and multiple consenting regime interconnector project. It represents a major milestone for the IFA2 project."

Dave Luetchford Head of IFA2 from National Grid said: "Enhancing Great Britain's energy connection to France will bring a number of benefits, including increasing security of electricity supplies for both countries and providing opportunities for shared use of renewable energy."

The IFA2 aims to be operational by 2020.

(LM)