IFA-2

IFA-2 (Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2) is a subsea electrical interconnector, running beneath the English Channel between France and the United Kingdom.[2] The 204-kilometre (127 mi) high voltage DC (HVDC) cable operates at +/-320kV with the capacity to transmit 1,000 MW of power.[3] IFA-2 is the second interconnector to be built between France and Great Britain, after the HVDC Cross-Channel link.

IFA-2
Location
CountryFrance, United Kingdom
General directionsouth-north
FromTourbe, France
Passes throughEnglish Channel
ToWarsash, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Ownership information
PartnersNational Grid plc
Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
Construction information
Manufacturer of conductor/cablePrysmian Group
Manufacturer of substationsABB Group
Construction started2017
CommissionedJanuary 2021[1]
Technical information
Typesubmarine cable
Type of currentHVDC
Total length204 km (127 mi)
Power rating1,000 MW
DC voltage±320 kV
No. of poles2
No. of circuits1

Route

The cable connects to the French grid at the Tourbe 400 kV substation. From there, a 300 m high voltage alternating current (HVAC) underground cable runs to the converter station nearby. A 24-kilometre (15 mi) long underground HVDC cable runs from the converter station to the landfall point east of Merville-Franceville-Plage, near Caen in Normandy.

On the British side, the landfall point is located at Monks Hill Beach, at the southern end of Solent Airfield, near Portsmouth. The converter station is located to the north east of Solent Airfield. From there, a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) long HVAC cable runs underwater to the point of connection to the grid at Chilling 400 kV substation, near Warsash, Hampshire.[2]

Project history

The project was developed by IFA2 SAS, a joint venture between the UK's National Grid and RTE of France.[3]

In 2015, the European Commission identified IFA-2 as one of key energy infrastructure projects.[2]

In 2017, contract for IFA-2 was awarded to the Prysmian Group and ABB. [3]

Normand Pacific in the Solent for cable burial works on IFA-2[4]

In October 2019, the project completed the external construction of the UK convertor building. [5] Cable laying works in the eastern Solent took place at the end of 2019.[4]

The cable was energised for the first time on 15 Oct 2020, in preparation for testing before going live.[6] It was placed into live operation on 22 January 2021 with an opening flow from France to the UK.[1]

See also
  • ElecLink, another 1,000 MW UK-France interconnector under construction

References
  1. "Cross-channel power link for 1m British homes opens". The Guardian. 22 January 2021.
  2. "IFA2 - Interconnextion France Angleterre". National Grid. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  3. "Bridging UK and France with Electricity". Prysmian Group. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  4. Sherwood, G.A.F (29 October 2019). "IFA2 CABLE LAY AND BURIAL CAMPAIGN - EASTERN SOLENT". national archives. royal navy. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. "IFA2 'Tops out' at Daedalus Airfield". ifa2interconnector.com. IFA2. 3 Oct 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  6. "National Grid's new undersea power cable between Britain and France energises race to net zero". IFA-2. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
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