Group PLC
Nautilus Project
We are developing plans to deliver a new subsea cable that could supply enough electricity to power around 1.4 million UK homes.
National Grid Ventures (NGV) is developing plans to deliver Nautilus, a new subsea cable allowing electricity to flow between the UK and Belgium. The new Offshore Hybrid Asset could supply enough electricity to power around 1.4 million UK homes.
Update on Nautilus – July 2024
The connection agreement for the proposed Nautilus interconnector has always been at Friston. In response to community concerns about the number of energy projects taking place in Suffolk, we explored the possibility of moving Nautilus to the Isle of Grain. In March 2024, the regulator, Ofgem, announced that it did not approve this proposal because the constraint costs i.e., the cost of upgrading the network around Grain to transmit the power between Nautilus and the electricity system would be too high.
Today – 15 July 2024 – Ofgem has announced that it is consulting on the possibility of Nautilus connecting at Friston as part of its Initial Project Assessment of Nautilus. Unlike at Grain, there is capacity in the electricity system at Friston. This means that the cost of connecting Nautilus at Friston is lower, as there are fewer reinforcements and upgrades needed to transmit the energy between Nautilus and the wider electricity grid.
The Ofgem consultation will close on 15 August 2024. We anticipate having clarity on the future of Nautilus in Autumn 2024.
Read our responses to your frequently asked questions
About Nautilus
Nautilus could connect up to 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind to each country through subsea electricity cables. By combining offshore wind generation with interconnector capacity between the UK and Belgium, Nautilus would significantly reduce the amount of infrastructure and disruption required both onshore and offshore.
With this new technology, we hope to reduce the impact of infrastructure on local communities and the environment, as well as support the government’s net zero and energy security targets. We are already working closely with other developers to coordinate activities and minimise impact on local communities. We believe that through improved coordination, the UK government can achieve and support the co-existence of renewable energy with coastal communities.
As an Offshore Hybrid Asset, Nautilus will help to:
Meet net-zero targets
Support the UK to achieve its 18GW of interconnection by 2030, as well as net zero by 2050
Strengthen the UK’s energy resilience
By providing 1.4GW of flexible capacity between the UK and Belgian networks.
Decarbonise the UK’s energy system
By introducing enough offshore wind energy into the UK’s electricity system to power around 1.7m homes
Lower bills for consumers
By providing access to the lowest priced energy available between the UK and Belgium.
An Offshore Hybrid Asset (OHA) is a type of interconnector that consists of a subsea electricity cable connecting the UK to neighbouring energy markets.
Nautilus was previously referred to as a ‘Multi-Purpose Interconnector’. However, NGV has updated the term to OHA in line with project development and new terminology introduced by the Department for Energy (DoE) for better alignment with the European markets.
Find out more about Offshore Hybrid Assets
Nautilus has been classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) in East Suffolk UK. As part of the NSIP process, the project has a live page on the Planning Inspectorate's website.
Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP)
Nautilus Interconnector is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) in East Suffolk by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The development will be required to submit an application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) where a final decision whether to grant consent will be made by the Secretary of State for BEIS.
The DCO regime requires a robust Environmental Impact Assessment and pre-application consultation process prior to any application being submitted. The DCO consent process will provide a single, unified consenting process with clear and fixed timescales.
Extensive environmental surveys and studies will be undertaken for Nautilus as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA process) and a range of statutory consultees and stakeholders will be consulted with. As part of this process, a Scoping Report, a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and an Environmental Statement (ES) will be produced.
Scoping Report
A Scoping Report will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. This will present the proposals for Nautilus and will describe how any potential impacts to the existing environment will be assessed. The feedback received on this document from the local planning authorities and statutory consultees will result in a Scoping Opinion from the Planning Inspectorate, which will be made publicly available.
The consultation process
National Grid Ventures holds several connection agreements across the UK, each with the potential for an Offshore Hybrid Asset (OHA). To understand the potential of these sites, we have to undertake feasibility work both onshore and offshore.
Materials from our previous consultation can be found below. Please note that these documents no longer accurately reflect proposals for Nautilus.
Consultation documents
Exhibition boards
Contact us:
Please get in touch if you would like to find out more about Nautilus.
You can contact a member of our Community Relations team as follows:
Freephone: 08081 699 822
Freepost: FREEPOST NAUTILUS
Email: [email protected]