UK interconnectors, live
Britain is importing a net 1.2 GW through its undersea cables right now.
Live data, updated .
Interconnectors: undersea cables
megawatts per interconnector
blue flows in, orange flows out
More on interconnectors →Electricity imports by country
share of electricity imported, by country, last 12 months
the numbers
- France52%
- Norway18%
- Denmark12%
- Belgium9%
- Netherlands8%
- Ireland (all-island)1%
GB sent 7,264 GWh to Ireland (all-island) and took 280 GWh back.
each band is that country's slice of whatever GB imported that month
More on imports and interconnectors →Every cable right now
| Cable | Country | Flow now | Capacity (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSL | Norway | in 1,400 MW | 1,400 MW |
| Viking | Denmark | in 849 MW | 1,400 MW |
| BritNed | Netherlands | in 431 MW | 1,000 MW |
| Nemo | Belgium | in 201 MW | 1,000 MW |
| ElecLink | France | in 0 MW | 1,000 MW |
| IFA | France | out 86 MW | 2,000 MW |
| IFA2 | France | out 129 MW | 1,000 MW |
| Moyle | N. Ireland | out 452 MW | 500 MW |
| East-West | Ireland | out 467 MW | 500 MW |
| Greenlink | Ireland | out 514 MW | 500 MW |
"In" is power flowing into Great Britain. Northern Ireland is part of the all-island market with Ireland, so its flows are grouped with Ireland in the yearly chart.
Why power flows the way it does
Interconnector flows are set by markets: electricity moves from where it is cheaper to where it is dearer, up to each cable's limit. When Britain is windy and its prices fall, cables reverse and export. When it is still and cold, Britain imports from France's nuclear fleet and Norway's hydro. This is one reason Britain can run with less spare capacity at home than it once needed.
See how imports shape the generation mix and carbon intensity.
Common questions
What are interconnectors?
Interconnectors are high-voltage cables, mostly under the sea, that link Britain's grid to its neighbours. Power flows whichever way the price difference points: into Britain when it is cheaper abroad, and out when Britain has spare wind or solar.
How many interconnectors does Britain have?
Ten: three to France (IFA, IFA2 and ElecLink through the Channel Tunnel), one each to Norway (North Sea Link), Denmark (Viking Link), the Netherlands (BritNed) and Belgium (Nemo Link), and three across the Irish Sea (Moyle to Northern Ireland, East-West and Greenlink to Ireland).
Does Britain import more electricity than it exports?
Over a year, yes: Britain is usually a net importer, mainly from France and Norway. But it often exports to Ireland, and on windy days it can export to the continent too. The chart above shows where imports came from each month.
Is imported electricity low-carbon?
Much of it is. French power is mostly nuclear and Norwegian power mostly hydro. The carbon of imports depends on what is running in the neighbouring country at the time.