United Kingdom: Analysis of Proposed Iceland-UK IceLink Interconnector

IceLink Under Study (OilVoice)

The Independent just published an article about the Iceland-UK IceLink interconnector under the headline 'David Cameron is poised to launch an ambitious project that could see Britain harnessing the power of Iceland's volcanoes within the next 10 years.' The Independent is jumping the gun a bit because Cameron isn't poised yet. All that's actually happened is that a UK-Iceland Energy Task Force 'has been set up to examine the feasibility of the scheme and told to report back in six months'. But still this is as good a time as any to take a brief look at the £4 billion Icelink project:

Landvirkjun, the National Power Company of Iceland, provides the following information on IceLink:

• The interconnector will be over 1000km long, 800 - 1200MW HVDC transmission link connecting Iceland to GB, and offering bi-directional flows
• IceLink will deliver a volume of >5TWh flexible renewable electricity per annum
• We anticipate that the total cost to the UK consumer will be competitive with other domestic low-carbon alternatives
• IceLink delivers reliable and flexible energy into the GB system at times of thin supply margins
• IceLink allows energy to flow to Iceland at times of low hydro generation potential, e.g. due to unusually low precipitation levels.

Read More.........