Today it was announced that National Grid is planning a major new energy infrastructure project linking the UK's electricity network to France, with proposals for the UK connection point being located on the Fareham side of the Daedalus site.
Investment of this nature is crucial to ensuring that the UK's future energy supply is secure, affordable, sustainable and resilient. It will guarantee that we are able to keep the lights on post 2020 and help reduce energy bills for consumers.
The electricity interconnector would be capable of exchanging 1,000 megawatts of power between the two countries, enough to run over 1,000,000 homes. It would link to the electricity network at a replacement substation building at the existing National Grid site near Chilling, Warsash. Undersea cables would run between Daedalus to Chilling, protecting the natural beauty of our unique coastal landscape.
Interconnectors are set to make a bigger contribution to securing UK energy supplies in the future with plans for facilities at Ramsgate in Kent and Blyth in Northumberland underway. The UK's goal is for 10% of our energy to be generated by interconnection by 2020. At present, 50% of energy in France is generated by nuclear means and 20% through hydro techniques, however 70% of the UK's energy supply is still reliant on fossil fuels which has a higher wholesale price.
As well as seeing around £500 million investment into Daedalus, Fareham Borough Council will receive money from the land sale and business rates. There will also be mitigation money for Daedalus which could bring forward plans for the extension and lighting of the runway and a new visitors centre. The brownfield site suggested for the new interconnector had previously been identified for potential gravel extraction or housing.
Fareham Borough Council will seek high quality designs and plans will not be finalised until the Council and residents are totally happy that the site is entirely safe and that there would be no dangerous electro-magnetic field emissions.
The Council will hold a special Community Action Team (CAT) meeting for residents to explain the proposals more fully. This will be held at Stubbington Baptist Church on 10 December at 7pm. It will be a ticketed event and tickets can be obtained from Fareham Borough Council by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 01329 236100.
There will also be a number of information events running across the area in the coming weeks. The details are as follows:
- Tuesday 8th December – Lockswood Community Centre, Locks Heath, 1.30pm-5.30pm
- Wednesday 9th December – St Faith's Parish Centre, Lee-on-the-Solent, 4pm – 8pm
- Thursday 10th December - Stubbington Baptist Church, Stubbington, 3pm-7pm
- Friday 11th December - Warsash Victory Hall, Warsash, 4pm – 8pm
- Saturday 12th December - Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington, 10am – 4pm
For more information, contact the community information line by phone on 0800 0194 576 or visit the project website: www.ifa2interconnector.com.
