UK’s National Grid has announced plans to invest up to $532 million (£400 million) to extend the operation of the Interconnexion France-Angleterre (IFA) power interconnector until at least 2050, preserving a vital electricity flexibility link between the two countries.
The investment is part of National Grid’s wider plans to invest at least $93 billion (£70 billion) across the Group over the five years to March 2031, the UK grid operator said on Thursday.
The IFA, jointly owned by National Grid and French grid operator RTE, has been operating for 40 years and is Britain’s largest subsea connection by capacity, capable of carrying enough electricity to power about 3 million British homes annually. Since 1986, electricity has historically flowed mainly from France to Great Britain, but the link also supports flows in the opposite direction when market conditions dictate. In 2022, for example, electricity exported from the UK helped France during outages across its nuclear fleet. There is also regular exporting on the intraday market, reflecting different demand patterns between the two countries.
National Grid argues that Britain should preserve into the second half of the century the ability to access cheaper French nuclear generation when the price of wholesale power is high in Britain, helping to lower prices for British consumers. Its analysis has found that its interconnectors have delivered $2.66 billion (£2 billion) in net benefits to British consumers since 2023, compared with traditional gas generation.
“As renewable generation grows, interconnectors can provide further opportunities to export electricity when UK supply exceeds domestic demand,” National Grid said.
Rebecca Sedler, President of NGV UK, National Grid, commented, “I’m proud to announce this new investment which will extend the operation of IFA to meet the next phase of electricity demand, from AI to electric vehicles.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The extension secures a key source of flexible electricity supply for Britain, helping to balance intermittent renewable generation and meet rising demand from artificial intelligence and electric vehicles.
- It locks in access to cheaper French nuclear power, potentially lowering wholesale electricity prices for UK consumers over the long term.
- The investment signals confidence in cross-border energy infrastructure as a complement to domestic generation, with implications for energy security and net-zero targets.
Background
The IFA interconnector is a 2,000 MW subsea electricity cable linking the UK and France, commissioned in 1986. It has historically enabled Britain to import surplus French nuclear power, but also allows exports when UK generation exceeds demand. The link has played a role in balancing both countries' electricity systems, notably during France's nuclear outages in 2022.
What to Watch
- National Grid's broader £70 billion investment plan over five years to March 2031, which may include upgrades to other interconnectors and domestic grid infrastructure.
- How the UK's growing fleet of wind and solar farms interacts with IFA flows, particularly during periods of high renewable output.
- Any regulatory or technical decisions from French grid operator RTE on the French side of the interconnector's long-term operation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedNational Grid plans to invest up to $532 million (£400 million) to extend the IFA’s operation until at least 2050.Oilprice.com: “UK’s National Grid plans to invest up to $532 million (£400 million) in extending the operation of the UK-France power interconnector until at least 2050”
- SupportedThe investment is intended to preserve a vital electricity flexibility link between the two countries.Oilprice.com: “to preserve a vital electricity flexibility link.”
- SupportedThe investment is part of National Grid’s plans to invest at least $93 billion (£70 billion) across the Group over the five years to March 2031.Oilprice.com: “The investment to extend the operations is part of National Grid’s wider plans to invest at least $93 billion (£70 billion) across the Group over the five years to March 2031”
- SupportedThe IFA has been operating for 40 years.Oilprice.com: “National Grid said on Thursday that after 40 years of operation to date, the Interconnexion France-Angleterre (IFA)”
- SupportedThe IFA is Britain’s largest subsea connection by capacity.Oilprice.com: “IFA is Britain’s largest subsea connection by capacity”
- SupportedThe IFA is jointly owned by National Grid and French grid operator RTE.Oilprice.com: “the cross-border electricity link jointly owned by National Grid and French grid operator RTE”
- SupportedThe IFA can carry enough electricity to power about 3 million British homes annually.Oilprice.com: “can carry enough electricity to power about 3 million British homes annually.”
- SupportedSince 1986, electricity has historically flowed mainly from France to Great Britain, while the IFA also supports flows in the opposite direction when market conditions dictate.Oilprice.com: “Since 1986, electricity has historically flowed mainly from France to Great Britain, but IFA also supports flows in the opposite direction when market conditions dictate.”
- SupportedIn 2022, electricity exported from the UK helped France during outages across its nuclear fleet.Oilprice.com: “In 2022, for example, electricity exported from the UK helped France during outages across its nuclear fleet.”
- SupportedNational Grid analysis found that its interconnectors delivered $2.66 billion (£2 billion) in net benefits to British consumers since 2023, compared with traditional gas generation.Oilprice.com: “National Grid analysis has found that its interconnectors have delivered $2.66 billion (£2 billion) in net benefits to British consumers since 2023, compared with traditional gas generation.”
- SupportedNational Grid said, “As renewable generation grows, interconnectors can provide further opportunities to export electricity when UK supply exceeds domestic demand,”Oilprice.com: ““As renewable generation grows, interconnectors can provide further opportunities to export electricity when UK supply exceeds domestic demand,” National Grid said.”
- SupportedRebecca Sedler, President of NGV UK, National Grid, said, “I’m proud to announce this new investment which will extend the operation of IFA to meet the next phase of electricity demand, from AI to electric vehicles.”Oilprice.com: “Rebecca Sedler, President of NGV UK, National Grid, commented, “I’m proud to announce this new investment which will extend the operation of IFA to meet the next phase of electricity demand, from AI to electric vehicles.””
