Prysmian Group strengthens its leadership in subsea interconnectors with the NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector, which links the two countries’ power grids for the first time.
NeuConnect Germany–U.K. Submarine Interconnector Overview
On April 1, 2022, Prysmian Group (official site) announced a contract worth about €1.2 billion to deliver the 725 km HVDC NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector. This major subsea link directly connects the German and U.K. electricity grids for the first time. In addition, it supports cross‑border power flows and helps both markets integrate more renewable energy.
NeuConnect Britain Limited and NeuConnect Deutschland GmbH selected Prysmian to deliver a turn‑key 1,400 MW submarine and land cable system. The scope includes design, manufacturing, installation, testing, and commissioning. As a result, the NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector helps both countries use renewable generation more efficiently and strengthen long‑term energy security on each side of the North Sea.
Route, Technology, and Financing
A group of international investors, including Meridiam, Allianz Capital Partners, and Kansai Electric Power, is privately financing the NeuConnect project. The structure depends on the successful tendering of the converter stations and final financing agreements. Even so, investors plan to position the NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector as one of Europe’s flagship grid assets. When completed, NeuConnect will rank among the world’s longest interconnectors and will stand out as one of the first large links financed through a project‑finance model. This approach shows how private capital can support Europe’s sustainable energy goals.
The cable route starts at the U.K. converter station on the Isle of Grain in Kent. It then crosses U.K., Dutch, and German waters and lands in Lower Saxony in Germany, where it connects to a converter station near Wilhelmshaven. In this way, the NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector creates a critical energy corridor that supports competitive, sustainable, and secure power exchange across the wider European network.
Prysmian will supply a complete ±525 kV HVDC cable system using mass‑impregnated (MI) paper‑insulated cables. The scope also includes fiber optic cables on the land sections and on selected submarine sections. Moreover, advanced monitoring systems will support ongoing maintenance and service during the warranty period. Prysmian will manufacture the submarine and land cables at its Arco Felice facility near Naples, Italy, and will use three of its own cable‑laying vessels for offshore installation. The company expects to commission the NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector in the second half of the decade.
NeuConnect in Prysmian’s Project Portfolio
The NeuConnect Germany–U.K. submarine interconnector joins a growing list of record‑breaking projects for Prysmian. These include Viking Link, the interconnector between Denmark and the U.K. that is now under installation. It also follows major framework contracts with Terna to reinforce Italy’s power grid and the strategic HVDC link connecting Saudi Arabia and Egypt, developed with SEC and EETC. Together, these projects confirm Prysmian Group’s role as a global partner for critical transmission infrastructure and the broader energy transition.
