CABLES under the English Channel, which would connect the national electricity grids of Britain and France, have moved a step closer to installation.

Aquind Ltd has had a Development Consent Order application for its proposed Aquind Interconnector system accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

This nationally significant infrastructure project would see the cables come ashore in Portsmouth and be linked to a substation at Lovedean, which is connected to the British national grid.

While alternating current is used across both national grids, the electricity would be converted to direct current for its journey under the sea.

The French end of the Aquind Interconnector would come ashore in Normandy.

The application seeks permission to construct and operate the British elements of the project, which would be capable of transmitting five per cent of Britain’s electricity needs and three per cent of those of France.

Early next year the Planning Inspectorate will start a six month examination of the application culminating in a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, who will make a decision early in 2021 after considering the local impact of the proposal.

Aquind director Richard Glasspool said: “Following extensive consultation with the local community, we are of course pleased our application has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

“The acceptance of the application is a significant milestone for the project and we would like to thank everyone in the local community that has engaged with the project to date.

“Our proposals have been shaped via feedback from the local community and stakeholders and we remain committed to engaging with relevant stakeholders moving forward.

“Aquind Interconnector will make a significant contribution to improving Great Britain’s security of electricity supply and achieving greater affordability by improving competition.

"It will also help to integrate a greater proportion of renewable and non-fossil fuel energy sources into the Great British energy mix.”