12.04.12
UK and Iceland discuss energy link
Icelandic volcanoes could power the UK, as the Government discusses plans to connect to the abundant geothermal energy resources via miles of high-voltage cables across the ocean floor.
The energy minister Charles Hendry is set to visit Icelandin May. He told the Guardian: “We are in active discussions with the Icelandic government and they are very keen.”
The cables, known as interconnectors, would have to be 1,000-1,500km long. They would link theUKto a Europe-wide supergrid which would combine the wind and wave power of northern Europe with solar projects such as Desertec in southern Europe to deliver clean, renewable energy.
The cables “are an absolutely critical part of energy security and for low carbon energy,” Hendry said. “Interconnectors are an incredibly effective way to counter the argument that you need to back up each gigawatt of wind with a gigawatt of gas – they quite clearly show you do not.”
There are two existing international interconnectors, with nine more either in construction, formal planning or undergoing feasibility studies. If all these were built, they could supply theUKwith a third of the nation’s average electricity demand.
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