Brussels, 13/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 13 October, the Norwegian government gave its approval to the construction of two sub-sea electricity lines connecting Norway to Germany and the United Kingdom under the North Sea. The commissioning of the two 1400 MW cables, the Nord.Link, which will connect Norway to Germany, and the North Sea Network, which will connect it to the United Kingdom, is scheduled for 2020 at the latest. Born of an energy partnership agreed in June 2012 between the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, these two sub-sea electricity interconnection projects will allow the three countries to exchange electricity and make use of Norway's hydroelectric potential.
“This will help enormously to integrate renewable energy in north-west Europe. Germany and UK can sell renewable energy to Norway when weather conditions are such that they produce a lot and Norway can sell electricity from hydropower. This will benefit both sides and balance the system”, commented the European Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger. The integration of the Norwegian, German and UK electricity markets, which at the moment are not connected directly, will ensure improved security of supply in the three countries, increase market efficiency and further integrate renewables, the Commission states. (EH)