National Grid to extend life of UK-France power link to 2050

National Grid

Thu 08:57

LONDON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Britain’s National Grid NG.L will invest up to £400 million ($531 million) to extend the life of the Interconnexion France-Angleterre (IFA) electricity link between Britain and France until at least 2050, the company said on Thursday.
IFA is jointly owned by National Grid and French grid operator RTE. The interconnector has marked 40 years of operation 
The investment programme will upgrade technical equipment, buildings and facilities at the interconnector site
IFA is Britain's largest subsea connection by capacity and can supply enough power for about 3 million British homes a year
Typically the link imports power from France to Britain, but it can also send power in the other direction
Britain has 10 operational power links with France, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands, with net imports supplying around 9% of Britain's electricity supply last year, government data shows
($1 = 0.7527 pounds)

(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; Editing by Xevi Fontdegloria)
((susanna.twidale@thomsonreuters.com; +44 207 5424753;))