Britain and Norway have finished laying the world's longest undersea power cable, which will send wind and hydro-sourced energy between the two countries, Norwegian power grid operator Statnett announced on Tuesday.
The 720-kilometre North Sea Link – all but 4km of it underwater – links Suldal in the south-west of the Scandinavian country to Blyth, near Newcastle.
The cable will deliver British wind energy to Norway, which will send hydropower to the UK in return, with testing set to start October 1.
The project is estimated to have cost between €1.5 billion ($1.82bn) and €2bn.
"When the wind blows in England and wind-power production is high, we in Norway will be able to buy cheap electricity from the British and leave the water in our dam reservoirs," said Statnett's project manager, Thor Anders Nummedal.
"When there is little wind and a greater need for electricity in England, they will in turn be able to buy hydroelectric power from us."
The capacity of the new cable is 1,400 megawatts.
The coupling of the two sections, built simultaneously from the British and Norwegian sides, took place late on Monday evening.
There were technical challenges, including the need to build a special barge to run the cable under a Norwegian lake and the drilling of a 2.3km tunnel.
"This is an important co-operation between the UK and Norway to make the most of our joint renewable energy resources," said Nigel Williams, project director at UK operator National Grid, which, like Statnett, owns 50 per cent of the project.
The cable has passed the record set by Nordlink, which was inaugurated only last month and connects Norway and Germany, measuring 623km, with 516km of it underwater.
Already connected to France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland, the UK is planning further direct connections with continental countries, including a 765km link with Denmark with a 621km stretch underwater.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
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The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
