Key milestone for UK-Germany interconnector
NeuConnect, the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany, has reached a key milestone with the project’s huge 700km cabling programme reaching the halfway stage.
The news comes as NeuConnect marks the third anniversary since major onshore construction work began in July 2023 and also coincides with the first anniversary of the Kensington Treaty, signed by the UK and German Governments in July 2025 to establish closer ties between both countries.
World’s largest cable laying vessel – Prysmian Leonardo da Vinci – is now in UK waters to help deliver this new energy link Image: Prysmian
Led by global investors Meridiam, Allianz, Kansai Electric Power and TEPCO, the £2.4bn/€2.8bn NeuConnect project will be one of the world’s largest interconnectors with over 700km of land and subsea cables forming an ‘invisible energy highway’ to connect two of Europe’s largest energy markets for the first time.
The new link will allow 1.4GW of electricity – enough to power up to 1.5 million homes – to flow in either direction, helping to boost energy security while also helping to integrate renewable energy sources in the UK and Germany.
Major onshore construction work began in the UK in July 2023 and in Germany in May 2024, with offshore cabling works starting at the end of 2024.
As NeuConnect now marks the third anniversary since the start of works, the project continues to make strong progress including:
more than 350km of offshore and onshore cabling in place;
construction of huge new Converter Stations on the Isle of Grain in Kent, and Wilhelmshaven, Germany with cladding works well underway;
All 14 transformers (7 in each country) have been delivered to the UK and German converter station sites.
Transformer delivery to the Isle of Grain site Image: Siemens Energy
Last year, NeuConnect was officially certified as an Independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) by GB energy regulator Ofgem. This was followed by the appointment of market leader JAO as provider for auctioning cross-border transmission capacity. Additionally, NeuConnect appointed Supercharge as its Market Integration Platform provider, playing a crucial customer-facing role in its cross-border operations.
GRID-UK Advisory Board Chair Sir Greg Hands and Julia Prescot CBE
NeuConnect Chair Julia Prescot CBE said:
“NeuConnect is not only a vital new energy link for Europe but one that is also being delivered at great pace. Reaching the halfway stage in NeuConnect’s huge 700km cabling journey is an important achievement, and a testament to the efforts of our delivery team and contractors, and the continued support from Government and industry partners in the UK and Germany.
It is also a fitting milestone as the UK and German Governments mark the first anniversary of the Kensington Treaty and underlines the important role NeuConnect will play in closer energy, security and economic ties between both countries.”