National Grid Ventures (NGV) has refined proposals for LionLink, a new subsea and underground electricity cable – known as an interconnector – which will connect an offshore wind farm to Great Britain’s and the Netherlands’ electricity grids.

Walberswick, Suffolk - proposed location for the LionLink converter station

NGV is inviting feedback on its latest proposals through an eight-week public consultation, which will give members of the community an opportunity to see how their comments have been considered since the previous consultations and provide further feedback on the plans, prior to NGV applying for development consent from the Planning Inspectorate.

LionLink is set to be one of the first projects of its kind, helping to shape the future of offshore renewable energy by combining wind generation and cross border interconnection in a single, integrated project. At present, offshore wind farms and international interconnectors operate independently, each requiring their own separate connection to land. LionLink reduces the number of individual shore landings, cuts infrastructure costs, and supports a more resilient, flexible energy system.

Supplying up to two gigawatts of cleaner electricity – enough to power approximately 2.5 million British homes, LionLink will play an important role in maximising the use of offshore wind and supporting the UK government’s objectives to create a secure, reliable, and affordable energy supply for consumers.

Gareth Burden, Construction Director for LionLink, commented:

“Our plans for LionLink have moved on significantly since we first announced the project. We’ve worked hard to ensure our approach will deliver real, lasting benefits to the economy with as little disruption as possible. Everyone who took the time to comment on our initial proposals since the 2022 and 2023 non-statutory consultations has helped us to refine our plans and consider the concerns of the community. We are coordinating with other developers in Suffolk on a regular basis so that where possible, we can work together to ensure construction is carried out in manageable sections, and we can avoid long term disruption in any one area”.

NGV has over 40 years of experience in constructing, developing, and operating interconnectors, with six in operation, enabling the flow of energy between Great Britain and partners in Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway. In each of these developments, NGV has sought to work closely with its partners, ensuring the benefits are felt by those affected by any work. In Suffolk, collaboration with other local developers is well-underway through regulator led meetings and the sharing of infrastructure plans. While commitments to support the local area are being delivered through partnerships with both National Energy Action and Catch22.

As part of its ongoing commitment to engage with the community following previous consultations on LionLink in 2022 and 2023, NGV announced that the subsea cable for LionLink will be located onshore at Walberswick, a decision made following an assessment of the environment and local residents’ concerns around access constraints and traffic impacts. NGV is also working closely with local authorities to ensure no construction takes place on the beach, and there is no visible infrastructure once the project is complete. 84% of the UK section of the LionLink cable will be offshore, and all onshore sections will be buried underground.

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