Channel Islands Electricity Grid
The Channel Islands Electricity Grid (CIEG) is the joint company set up in 1998 between Guernsey Electricity and Jersey Electricity to operate and manage the submarine cables between mainland Europe and the Channel Islands.
The grid physically comprises a network of high voltage (90 kV, 3-phase, 50 Hz) submarine and underground cables linking the French electricity grid to the electricity systems on the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.[1] The grid enables electricity generated from renewable sources in France to be transmitted to Jersey and Guernsey.
Development
The CIEG is continuing to develop the undersea cable network with additional subsea cables between the islands and France being devised[citation needed] to give both Guernsey and Jersey greater security and better affordability, as they will give the islands the opportunity to increase the amount of imported energy.
Long term agreements with Électricité de France (EdF) ensure the imported electricity is low carbon.[2] Ninety percent of Guernsey’s electricity is imported from the grid.[3]
Co-operating through the CIEG means the islands can work together towards improving the reliability of the grid system.
Cable connections
| Name | Type | Operational period | Route | Distance | Capacity | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normandie 2[4] | Submarine | 2000–present | Saint-Rémy-des-Landes,[5] France to Archirondel, Jersey | 17 kilometres (11 mi) | 90 MW | Operational | Cable contains fibre optic cables |
| GJ1[6] | Submarine | 2000–2018 2019-present |
Queen's Road, Jersey to Barkers Quarry, Guernsey | 37.4 kilometres (23.2 mi) | 60 MW | Operational | Cable contains 3 fibre optic cables of 24 fibres each, ceased working in 2018 after 2 faults. Replaced in 2019 at a cost of £30m.[7] |
| Normandie 3[8] | Submarine | 2014–present | Armanville (Pirou), France to Grouville Bay Jersey then to South Hill sub-station | 32 kilometres (20 mi) (+ 17 km overland in France and 7 km overland in Jersey) | 100 MW | Operational | |
| Normandie 1[9] | Submarine | 2017–present | Surville to Archirondel, Jersey | 27 kilometres (17 mi) (+ 2 km overland in France) | 100 MW | Operational | Work started in 2016.[10] Follows same route as EDF1 at a cost of £40m it became operational in February 2017. |
| GJ2[11] | Submarine | Jersey to Petit Bot, Guernsey | 38 kilometres (24 mi) | 100 MW | pending | ||
| GF1[12] | Submarine | Vale, Guernsey to La Manche, France | 54 kilometres (34 mi) | pending | |||
| FAB Link[13] | Submarine | France to Alderney to Britain (FAB Link) | 220 kilometres (140 mi) | 1,400 MW | suspended | ||
| EDF1[14] | Submarine | 1984 - 2012 | Surville, France to Archirondel,Jersey | 27 kilometres (17 mi) | 50 MW | Removed | Faulty cable lifted in 2016 for recycling[15] |
| Underground | Archirondel substation to South Hill substation via Rue des Pres substation, Jersey | Operational | |||||
| Underground | Archirondel substation to Queen's Road substation, Jersey | Operational | |||||
| Underground | South Hill s/s to Queen's Road s/s via St. Helier West s/s, Jersey | Operational | |||||
| Underground | South Hill s/s to Western Primary s/s, Jersey | Operational | |||||
| Underground | Western Primary s/s to Queen's Road s/s, Jersey | Operational | |||||
| Underground | Queen's Road to Greve de Lecq, Jersey (GJ1) | Operational | |||||
| Underground | Barkers Quarry to Bellegreve, Guernsey | Operational |
Future
See also
- Jersey Electricity Company
- Guernsey Electricity
- List of power stations in the British Crown Dependencies
External links
References
- ^ "Implementation of a system integrity protection scheme in the Channel Islands". 2017.
- ^ "Channel Island grid strengthened". Sustainable Guernsey. 29 May 2013.
- ^ "Channel Islands Electricity Grid" (PDF).
- ^ "Normandie 2". 4C Offshore.
- ^ (fr) Présentation de la seconde interconnexion électrique entre l'île de Jersey et la France website rte-france.com
- ^ "GJ1". 4C Offshore.
- ^ "Guernsey's supply of green electricity". Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ "New Jersey electricity cable 'will be more secure'". BBC. 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Jersey Electricity signs contract for third power cable". JE.
- ^ "Undersea Cable laying starts on new link to France". GE.
- ^ "GJ2". 4C Offshore.
- ^ "Talks under way on direct cable link with France". 6 May 2021.
- ^ "The France-Alderney-Britain ("FAB") project". Transmission Investment.
- ^ "The Channel Island Electricity Grid (CIEG)". Visit Jersey.
- ^ "Faulty undersea cable removed ready for powerful replacement". Guernsey press. 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Direct power cable to France needed – Guernsey Electricity". Guernsey Press. 4 Nov 2015.
- ^ "Prove you can pay £6m. for power cable, T&R tells Sark". Guernsey Press. 27 Mar 2015.