Name and Location
Nemo Link project, UK and Belgium.

Client
Nemo Link, a joint venture between the British grid operator National Grid and Belgian Transmission System Operator Elia Group.

Project Description
Nemo Link has been designated as one of the European Commission’s projects of common interest to help create an integrated European Union energy market. It will increase energy security in the UK and Belgium and support the integration of renewable energy such as offshore-generated wind power.

The project will include subsea and underground cables connected to a converter station and an electricity substation in each country, which will allow for electricity flow in either direction between the two countries.

The proposed site for the converter station and electricity substation in the UK is an 8 ha site, formerly occupied by the Richborough power station, which now forms part of the Richborough Energy Park proposals. A similar converter station and substation is proposed in the industry zone Herdersbrug, in Bruges, Belgium.

After its completion, Nemo Link will provide 1 000 MW of capacity, enough to power 500 000 households. The link will run 140 km between Richborough on the Kent coast and Zeebrugge, near the city of Brugge, and include a combination of subsea and underground cables.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Commercial operation of the link is scheduled for 2019.

Latest Developments
Siemens and J-Power Systems, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, have jointly been awarded a contract with an estimated valued of about €500-million, for the Nemo Link project.

Siemens will build the converter stations in Kent and Zeebrugge using their high-voltage direct current (HVDC) plus technology. The company will also provide service and maintenance five years.

J-Power systems will design, manufacture and install the state-of-the-art HVDC XLPEcable system – the first time it will be used operationally as a HVDC link at 400 kV.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Siemens and J-Power Systems, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries (HVDC transmission system).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
National Grid, Mark Malbas, tel +44 1926 655291 or email mark.malbas@nationalgrid.com.
Elia Group chief communication officer Olivier Feix, tel +49-30 -5150-3813, fax +49-30-5150-2199 or
email olivier.feix@50hertz.com.
Siemens energy management division, Sabrina Martin, tel +49 91 31 737168 or email sbarina.martin@siemens.com.
J-Power Systems, tel +81 3 3546 2211 or fax +81 3 3544 1819.