Renewables consultancy Natural Power has supported an application for consent for the 2GW AQUIND interconnector between southern England and northern France.

The HVDC link application - accepted late last year by the Planning Inspectorate - will have the capacity to transmit up to 16m megawatt-hours a year, per annum, which equates to around 5% and 3% of total consumption of the UK and France respectively.

Natural Power was appointed by AQUIND Limited in the early stages of the project, working with the project team to optimise the marine cable route across the Channel.

The consultancy undertook scoping exercises, co-ordinating the marine environmental impact assessment process and environmental statement (ES) production.

In addition, Natural Power acted as advisor to the marine aspects of the project through liaison with marine stakeholders including the Marine Management Organisation as part of pre-application process.

“It has been a challenging and rewarding project thus far and we have been instrumental in the preparation of the submission of the application to the Planning Inspectorate,” said Natural Power offshore associate technical director Jane Lancaster.

AQUIND director Richard Glasspool added: “Amongst other things, this project is an opportunity to integrate a greater proportion of non-fossil fuel energy sources into the British energy mix and in turn reduce CO2 emissions from the burning of such fuels.”