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Further to the public consultation which took place from 22 October to 23 November 2015, ElecLink publishes the final draft versions of the ElecLink Access Rules and Charging Methodology Statement. The final draft versions are subject to the approval of the national energy regulatory authorities in Great Britain and France, Ofgem and CRE respectively. ElecLink submitted the final draft versions to Ofgem and CRE for approval on 10 February 2016. The decision process can take up to 3 months.

A. ElecLink Access Rules – Final draft subject to regulatory approval

B. ElecLink Charging Methodology Statement – Final draft subject to regulatory approval

ElecLink publishes a synthesis of the responses to the public consultation on the ElecLink Access Rules and Charging Methodology Statement which took place from 22 October 2015 to 23 November 2015. The document sets out ElecLink’s responses to the comments received from different stakeholders, including the reasons underlying ElecLink’s position, and highlights the changes that ElecLink has introduced in the ElecLink Access Rules and Charging Methodology Statement in response to the public consultation responses.”

A PDF of the article can be viewed here.

Energy UK has joined forces with ITN Productions to make an online news-style programme to promote greater understanding of the energy industry. ElecLink are delighted to be involved in the production of this programme.

Introduced by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, “A Future of Choice” focuses on the choices the UK faces delivering continued energy security, and examines the evolution of the generation mix and the technological challenges facing the industry as it works towards sustained environment improvement.

The programme is also used as an opportunity to recognize and share the latest revolutionary developments throughout the UK, including the rising stars of the sector who are shaping tomorrow’s energy landscape. It examines how large capital investments in technologies, infrastructures and career training has been fundamental to address security of supply concerns and to address carbon reduction commitments.

This clip is ElecLink’s contribution to an overall ITN production which will be available to view in the near future.

ElecLink announces today the start of the public consultation on the ElecLink Access Rules and Charging Methodology Statement. The consultation closes on 23 November 2015. Details on how to participate in the consultation can be found in the consultation paper below. Interested parties are invited to send their feedback no later than the closing date to vasilis.machias@eleclink.co.uk.

Iframe A. ElecLink Consultation Paper
B. ElecLink Access Rules
C. ElecLink Access Rules - redline version against IFA Access Rules version 9
D. ElecLink Charging Methodology Statement

ElecLink has nominated Balfour Beatty/Prysmian as the preferred bidder in the evaluation process for its Lot 2 contract. The scope of works includes the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Maintenance of the Cable Systems of the Channel Tunnel Interconnector Project.

The Board of ElecLink is delighted to announce the appointment of Steven Moore as CEO, effective as of 6th July 2015. Steven was previously Director of Smart Metering with EDF Energy and before that Group Director of Commerce, Optimisation and Trading at EDF Paris. He has a broad range of experience that will benefit the company as it moves from being a project developer through construction and into operation.

Angus Norman, the current CEO, will be handing over to Steven over the next few weeks. Angus has been with ElecLink since 2012 and has been instrumental in bringing the company to its current stage of development and readiness for construction. The Board would like to thank Angus for his dedication and hard work for ElecLink and wishes him the very best for the future.

ElecLink has nominated Siemens AG as the preferred bidder in the evaluation process for its Lot 1 contract. The scope of works includes the Overall System Design, Build, Operation and Maintenance of the Converter Stations in Folkestone (UK) and Coquelles (France).

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) provides grant funding to eligible ‘projects of common interest’. ElecLink is proud to have been selected to receive a financial grant under the 2014 CEF Energy call for proposals. It underscores the continued implementation of the project and its future contribution to European cross-border energy infrastructure.

ElecLink today announces the launch of the non-binding Expression of Interest phase for the allocation of long term contracts for up to 80% (800 MW) of the 1,000 MW ElecLink interconnector between France and Great Britain.

The move follows approvals by the competent national regulatory authorities, the Commission de régulation de l’énergie of France (“CRE”) and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets of Great Britain (“Ofgem”), and by the European Commission to forward sell part of the interconnector capacity on a long term basis.

The ElecLink Interconnector is expected to be fully operational in Q4 2017, thereby fast-tracking new interconnection capacity and enhancing security of electricity supply during a period when reserve margins in both Great Britain and France are forecast to be in decline.

The Multi-year Products will be allocated to interested buyers through an open, transparent and non-discriminatory auction process which is expected to take place in Q2 2015. ElecLink is considering offering various contract durations up to a maximum of 20 years after commissioning of the Interconnector.

Interested parties are invited to register their interest, on a non-binding and indicative basis, in contracting interconnector capacity by 1 December 2014.

Further information on how to participate can be found in the Expression of Interest Notice and the relevant Appendices below:

1. Expression of Interest Notice (including Appendices)
2. Appendix A – Indicative Heads of Terms
3. Appendix B – Expression of Interest Registration Form (non-binding)
4. Appendix C – Non-Disclosure Agreement
5. Appendix D – Final Exemption Decision
6. Appendix E – Joint Opinion of the NRAs

The Commission de régulation de l’énergie of France (“CRE”) and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets of Great Britain (“Ofgem”) have published their final decision on ElecLink’s request for an exemption under Article 17 of Regulation (EC) 714/2009 for a Great Britain-France electricity interconnector.

CRE and Ofgem updated their original exemption decision and joint opinion published on 9 April 2014 to reflect minor changes requested by the European Commission covering ownership unbundling.

Their decision enables ElecLink to forward sell part of the interconnector capacity on a long term basis and specifies the conditions that the exemption is subject to.

A summary of the decision, as well as the final versions of the exemption decision and joint opinion can be found here:

Summary of the Regulators Final Decision
Final Joint Opinion of the Regulators; the CRE and Ofgem

The European Commission has approved the exemption from certain aspects of European legislation granted to ElecLink by the UK and French regulators (Ofgem and Commission de Régulation de l'Energie respectively). The decision from the national regulators grants ElecLink a partial exemption pursuant to article 17 of Regulation 714/2009 from certain rules on the use of revenues, ownership unbundling and third party access.

ElecLink will now work with the national regulators on implementing the decision into local licence conditions. ElecLink is proceeding with a number of workstreams to be completed before the project reaches financial close, including the final engineering design to comply with the Eurotunnel safety case and grid codes. After gaining approval from the national regulators for the chosen process of allocating capacity, ElecLink will conduct an auction of long-term capacity products which will underpin ElecLink’s non-recourse project financing to secure debt for the construction phase of the project.

A copy of the European Commission’s exemption can be found here:

Please direct all media enquiries to Simon Ludlam via: Email: Simon.Ludlam@eleclink.co.uk
Phone: +44 203 3693 5322

The Exemption Decision is subject to compliance by ElecLink with certain conditions that are designed to ensure that the exemption is appropriate and proportionate. In summary, the Exemption Decision includes the following conditions:

• Use of Revenues – A partial exemption from the use of revenue requirements is given and includes a profit sharing mechanism that will provide an adequate return to shareholders and ensure that excessive profits are shared with GB and French network users.
• Ownership Unbundling Rules – A partial exemption from ownership unbundling is awarded that requires ElecLink to comply with an amended unbundling model. This model will not compromise the investment strategy of ElecLink’s existing shareholders, subject to adequate business separation and within pre-defined limits. ElecLink will be required to be certified and ensure that it is fully compliant with the conditions contained in the Exemption Decision, prior to the start of commercial operation of the interconnector.
• Third Party Access – A partial exemption from TPA is granted for the multi-year capacity that ElecLink will allocate through their Open Season. Limits are included on the maximum duration and volume of multi-year capacity along with a limit on the amount of multi-year capacity that can be awarded to any one party. ElecLink will be subject to market coupling and will be required to put in place measures to ensure all un-nominated capacity is made available for short-term trading.
• Approval of Access Rules and Charging Methodologies/tariffs – No exemption is given from requirements to submit to both NRAs the access and charging arrangements for both the capacity allocated through the Open Season, and non- exempt capacity. The NRAs will assess whether the arrangements for the Open Season comply with the principles set out in the Exemption Decision. In GB access and charging arrangements for non-exempt capacity will need to be submitted and approved as described in Standard Licence Conditions (SLC) 10 and 11A of ElecLink’s interconnector licence.

Further information and a copy of the full Joint Opinion can be found here.

Following the requirements of the TEN-E regulations ElecLink have a public consultation day in Sellindge Village Hall, Kent to outline the their proposals for the Project works in the UK.

A PDF of the article can be viewed here.

A PDF of the feedback form can be downloaded here.

A PDF of the advertisement can be viewed here.

Ofgem and the CRE have launched their joint consultation on ElecLink’s request for an exemption under article 17 of Regulation (EC) 714/2009 for a GB-France interconnector.

Full details of the consultation process can be found on the websites of Ofgem and the CRE.

In English here
In French here

In addition documents supporting the consultation process provide evidence given by ElecLink in its application and provide additional information on the impact of ElecLink on the French and GB transmission grids can also be downloaded from the links above. Interested parties may respond to the consultation.

The public consultation commences 28 November 2013 for a four week period. Responses should be received by Ofgem and the CRE by 3 January 2014.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/

The full announcement appeared in the Financial Times on 15 October 2013. A full transcript of the announcement can be found here

ElecLink, the Channel Tunnel interconnector project, today announced two major developments to realise an additional 1000MW of interconnector capacity with continental Europe. ElecLink has agreed and signed connection agreements with National Grid Electricity Transmission Limited (NGET) and Réseau de transport d’électricité (RTE) for access to the national transmission systems in England and France.

Under these contracts NGET and RTE will provide ElecLink with connections capable of importing and exporting up to 1000MW of power from their transmission substations at Sellindge, in South East England, and Les Mandarins, in Northern France, respectively. The connections will be operational from the fourth quarter of 2016.

ElecLink has subsequently submitted a request to the national energy regulators; la Commission de Régulation de l'Énergie and Gas and Electricity Markets Authority to exempt the company from certain articles of the European Commission’s third energy package directives and regulations that would allow ElecLink to operate as a merchant interconnector.

The national regulators’ six month review process will include a public consultation towards the end of the year. The granting of an appropriate regulatory exemption is a condition to ElecLink’s financial close scheduled for the first half of 2014.. The full report can be found here

ElecLink submitted a request for exemption under Article 17 to Ofgem and the CRE (together the National Regulatory Authorities or NRAs) and was formally notified of receipt of its exemption request by CRE on 11 September 2013 and by Ofgem on 18 September 2013.

In accordance with Article 17, the concerned NRAs must reach an agreement on whether the exemption should be granted within 6 months of the date of receipt of the exemption request by the last of the two concerned NRAs.

Accordingly, Ofgem and CRE are required to make a decision on whether to grant ElecLink’s request for exemption by 17 March 2014.

The NRAs final decision to exempt new investments in cross border electricity interconnectors from legal provisions concerning third party access, regulatory approval for tariffs, use of revenue and ownership unbundling is subject to the approval of the European Commission.

The granting of an exemption is condition precedent for the final investment decision to proceed with the project.