Isle of Man to England Interconnector
| Country | United Kingdom & Isle of Man |
|---|---|
| Coordinates |
53°50′57″N 03°01′46″W / 53.84917°N 3.02944°W 54°08′52″N 4°28′51″W / 54.14778°N 4.48083°W |
| From | Bispham, Blackpool, England |
| Passes through | Irish Sea |
| To | Douglas Head, Isle of Man |
| Partners | National Grid plc |
| Manufacturer of conductor/cable |
BICC, Erith Pirelli Cables, Southampton |
| Construction started | 1999 |
| Commissioned | 2000 |
| Type | submarine cable |
| Type of current | AC |
| Total length | 104 km (65 mi) |
| Power rating | 40 MW |
| AC voltage | 90 kV |
The Isle of Man to England Interconnector is a submarine power cable connecting the transmission system of the Manx Electricity Authority to that of Great Britain. With an undersea section of approximately 104 kilometres (65 mi), it is the longest AC undersea cable in the world. It was laid in 1999 between Bispham, Blackpool, England, and Douglas Head on the Isle of Man, commencing commercial operations in November 2000. It is capable of continuous operation of 40 MW at 90 kV.
The cable was manufactured in two parts: one section at BICC in Erith and the other at Pirelli Cables in Southampton.
Once completed, the cable ended the Isle of Man's dependence on locally powered diesel generation. Power supplies to the island were further reinforced in 2003 by an 85-MW combined cycle gas turbine power station at Pulrose, in the capital, Douglas.
a. ^ Longer undersea cables exist, but all operate on direct current.
Coordinates: 54°0′N 3°50′W / 54.000°N 3.833°W
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Wikipedia