The Swedish company MMT has started to conduct offshore geophysical survey for the proposed 2 GW Aquind interconnection project between France and the United Kingdom. Once completed, the survey results will enable the operator to choose Aquind's final route selection and support planning applications to the UK and French authorities.
The Aquind project is a subsea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) electric power transmission line between Lovedean, near Portsmouth, on the South Coast of England and Dieppe (Normandy, France). The total estimated cost of the project is £1.1bn (around €1.45bn). In September 2016, Aquind was granted an interconnection license from the British energy regulator Ofgem to develop the project. Construction is expected to start in 2019 for a commissioning date scheduled in 2021. The electrical interconnection will entail a subsea cable of approximately 180 km, comprising four DC cables of 320 kV. It is expected to transmit 16 TWh/year of electricity.