FAB Link is a proposed HVDC

Interconnector An interconnector (also known as a DC tie in the USA) is a structure which enables high voltage DC electricity to flow between electrical grids. An electrical interconnector allows electricity to flow between separate AC networks, or to link sy ...

, spanning the between France and Great Britain, running close to the island of Alderney. As of March 2022, project planning has tentatively re-started after a five-year pause.

Current project status

In 2017, the French energy regulator said it needed more clarity on the conditions of the UK’s exit from the European Union, putting the whole project in doubt. In March 2022, the project promoters, FAB Link Limited and RTE, agreed to "review and reassess the project." The aim is to seek regulators' support to restart the project. In July 2022 the proposed route was announced and it would avoid landfall in Alderney.

Route

According to plans, 25 km AC land cables in France ( L'Étang-Bertrand,

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Menuel), landfall will be made at

Siouville-Hague Siouville-Hague () is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. See also *Communes of the Manche department The following is a list of the 446 Communes of France, communes of the Manche Departments of France, dep ...

, 30 km HVDC submarine cables between France and Alderney. 1 km land cables across Alderney, 140 km HVDC submarine cables with landfall at

Budleigh Salterton Budleigh Salterton is a seaside town on the coast in East Devon, England, south-east of Exeter. It lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and forms much of the electoral ward of Budleigh, whose ward population at t ...

with 20 km HVDC land cables to a converter station planned to be located near

Exeter Airport Exeter Airport , formerly ''Exeter International Airport'', is an international airport located at Clyst Honiton in East Devon, close to the city of Exeter and within the county of Devon, South West England. Exeter has a CAA Public Use Aero ...

with some AC land cables to connect to the grid in England. Within Alderney, The FAB Link is a set of cables, each 5 inches in diameter, buried 1–2 metres deep crossing Alderney at Longis Common. It connects to the undersea cables from France to Alderney and from Alderney to England. The final proposed route will not make landfall in Alderney.

Technical specification

Twin 700 MW cables giving a capacity of 1,400 MW. Land cables carry 400 kV AC Voltage, The submarine voltage will be 320 kV DC Voltage. Voltage Sourced Converters (VSC) are the preferred converter technology.

Project economics

The cost is estimated at €750m. The FAB project has received funding from the European Commission through the Connecting Europe Facility of €7.235m FAB is unlikely to facilitate the export of electricity from Tidal Turbines in Alderney’s waters, due to the cable bypassing the Island. Submarine power cables need to incorporate fibre optic cables to monitor performance, which gives an excess capacity that can be used for high-speed communications. Alderney will not now receive rent of around £70,000 per annum for the facilities they would have provided together with a possible reduction in electricity prices paid by consumers, following the cool response from Alderney and the change in the final route to bypass the Island.

Wider context

A European project, part of a series of grid ‘interconnectors’ between mainland Europe and UK, part of the

High-voltage direct current A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system (also called a power superhighway or an electrical superhighway) uses direct current (DC) for electric power transmission, in contrast with the more common alternating curre ...

(HVDC) power interconnector system. As of 2021, two other links (

IFA IFA or Ifa may refer to: Organisations Economics * Independent financial adviser, a type of financial services professional in the UK * Index Fund Advisors * Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, representing actuaries in the UK * Institute of Ac ...

2000MW and

IFA-2 IFA-2 (Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2) is a subsea electrical interconnector, running beneath the English Channel between France and the United Kingdom. The high voltage DC (HVDC) cable operates at +/-320kV with the capacity to transmit 1,00 ...

1000MW) connect France with the United Kingdom.

Project history

In January 2017 applications for licences from the

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District Council and the States of Guernsey were submitted. Approval for the project is expected after

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give their final project assessment decision in July 2017 with the final investment decision made in late 2017. The project was scheduled to commence construction in 2018 with a proposed completion by 2022. However, this schedule was delayed, with construction now planned to start in 2021 and completion in 2025.

Project promoters

The project is being jointly developed by

Réseau de Transport d'Électricité Réseau de Transport d'Électricité ("Electricity Transmission Network"), usually known as RTE, is the electricity transmission system operator of France. It is responsible for the operation, maintenance and development of the French high-voltage ...

(RTE) and FAB Link Limited. FAB Link Limited is a joint venture between Alderney Renewable Energy Limited and Transmission Investment LLP. Transmission Investment is a leading independent transmission business spanning origination, project development, acquisition management, financial structuring and asset management. It is doubtful whether a connection is possible to the cable following the decision to bypass Alderney, making it unlikely to be viable to connect any renewable system to the cable.

Planning issues

Unresolved conflicts about the appropriateness of this project to the island resulted in the delaying of controversial planning law changes in 2016. The unprecedented change of law would open the area known as the "Green Belt" to industrial utility development, granting FAB Link permission to lay cables across a rural part of Alderney. The retention of the preservation laws would result in the cables having to by-pass Alderney altogether.

Controversy

Some Alderney residents believe the character of Alderney would be ruined, damaging the island's seasonal tourism industry; protest demonstrations took place in 2016 and in July 2017 to this end. Others believe the link will assist future tidal turbine projects and financially benefit construction and energy production contractors.

References

External links

FAB Project

Connecting Europe Facility
{{Energy in the United Kingdom, govreg Electrical interconnectors to and from Great Britain Electrical interconnectors to and from the Synchronous Grid of Continental Europe Energy in the United Kingdom Energy in France Électricité de France HVDC transmission lines