NeuConnect is a vital new energy link that will create the first direct connection between the UK and German electricity markets. The project will be one of the world’s largest interconnectors with 725km of land and subsea cables forming an ‘invisible energy highway’ between the UK and Germany. 

The high voltage direct current (HVDC) link will enable up to 1.4GW of electricity - enough to power 1.5 million homes - to flow in either direction. By connecting two of Europe’s largest energy markets for the first time, NeuConnect will help to increase competition, integrate renewable energy sources, and strengthen energy security. 

Arup’s expertise has been integral to NeuConnect since 2019 – first in supporting contractor procurement and regulatory submissions and then supporting the project with experienced staff embedded as part of the client team. Working closely with NeuConnect’s developers, we’ve brought a wealth of expertise and experience from other major energy and infrastructure projects.

Our technical advice has helped to drive efficient contract and commercial management, and has played a key role in supporting the delivery of a ground-breaking project crucial to the energy transition.

De-risking through flexibility and specialist energy skills

Successfully de-risking and delivering an energy infrastructure project of this scale demands the right blend of skills and expertise. Our team has years of experience in developing major interconnectors, working closely with National Grid in the UK, transmission system operators across Europe and a range of private investors and developers. This gave us a thorough understanding of the challenges facing NeuConnect. 

NeuConnect initially invited us to assist with scoping the development phase before we went on to support them with procurement and regulatory submissions. Our technical expertise enabled the project to be procured at a price point that supported its business case. We were also involved in work to ensure NeuConnect could gain consent and meet regulatory requirements under the UK’s Cap and Floor regime.

Major construction on NeuConnect started in summer 2023 and during the construction phase, we flexed our team to provide specialist expertise across a number of disciplines needed for an interconnector of this scale. This included reaching back into the wider Arup organisation, allowing us to respond rapidly and proactively to key challenges with the right expertise at the right time.

NeuConnect’s construction continues to make good progress and remains on-track for completion, with the project also continuing to attract strong support from the UK and German governments.

A project the scale and complexity of NeuConnect depends on the expertise and support of experienced partners – Arup has played a key role in NeuConnect’s delivery as we bring this vital new energy link for Europe ever closer.

Umberto Picciariello

NeuConnect Chief Technical Officer

Enabling seamless cross border working

HVDC interconnectors interface with the Transmission System Operator (TSO) of each country. This is the point where the cables emerge from the sea and connect to the local electricity grid via a converter station and a substation. Each converter station turns the high voltage direct current (DC) from the undersea cable into alternating current (AC) so that it can be fed into the transmission grid to ultimately power homes and businesses. 

For NeuConnect, these connections are located on the Isle of Grain (Kent, UK) and in Wilhelmshaven (Lower Saxony, Germany) where construction is underway on new Converter Stations. Since the early stages of NeuConnect’s development, we’ve provided expertise to facilitate the technical, commercial and operational interfaces with the TSOs in the UK and Germany. In the UK, Arup’s HVDC experts are engaging with National Grid to ensure the UK transmission network can seamlessly accommodate NeuConnect. Similarly, in Germany, we are liaising with grid operator TenneT to make sure NeuConnect meets the network’s requirements..

Critical supply chain engagement 

With supply chain capacity crucial to the success of major energy projects, our ability to be on the ground in Germany to develop relationships with local manufacturers and support contractual management has played a key role in NeuConnect’s delivery. Our electrical engineers also attended testing at manufacturers’ facilities in Germany, Italy and Japan to ensure quality and compliance with technical specifications. 

Arup’s expertise a key part of NeuConnect’s continued progress

The depth and breadth of Arup’s technical expertise has helped NeuConnect achieve the desired project and commercial outcomes. Robust internal processes to handle potential conflicts of interest allow us to bring our skills simultaneously to National Grid, other transmission network operators, distribution network operators, investors and developers like NeuConnect so we are able to act as convenors and facilitators for a complex, cross-border project of this kind. 

With NeuConnect continuing to make good progress, Arup’s wide-ranging expertise continues to play an important role. NeuConnect is on-track for completion in 2028, and will offer a significant boost to a secure, sustainable and affordable energy supply across the UK and Germany.