FAB Link

On 4 November 2022, Ofgem confirmed that FAB Link had satisfied the conditions of its March 2022 needs case decision, and that the project therefore retains its GB cap and floor regulatory regime in principle for the interconnector between Exeter and the Cotentin peninsula via Alderney.

On 4 March 2022, Ofgem published a positive needs case reassessment for the FAB Link interconnector, confirming that the project should retain its GB cap and floor regime in principle, conditional on FAB Link Limited presenting a clear pathway to regulatory approvals in France.

In an early project schedule published by partner Transmission Investment, the FAB Link interconnector was planned to be connected to the UK transmission system in late 2020, implying initial energisation and first power transfer ahead of later commercial operation milestones.

In its July 2017 supply chain plan, FAB Link Ltd stated that the project was on target to achieve non‑recourse financial close for the FAB Link Ltd portion and a final investment decision by RTE in early 2018, with construction planned to start shortly thereafter.

In November 2017, East Devon District Council granted FAB Link Limited full planning permission for reinstatement works to the selected footpath route from the Budleigh Salterton landfall, following consultations on route options across the Hawkerland ‘Gap’. This consent enables FAB Link to proceed with using the footpath alignment for the onshore cable works associated with the interconnector project.

In April 2016, FAB Link Limited completed marine surveys along the proposed subsea cable route for the FAB Link HVDC interconnector between Britain and France. These geophysical and related surveys were carried out to characterise the seabed and inform detailed route selection and design for the offshore cables crossing the English Channel/La Manche.

Ofgem granted FAB Link Initial Project Assessment (Interim Project Approval) under the GB interconnector cap and floor regime, following its March 2015 initial project assessment, thereby accepting the project into the regulated revenue framework subject to further approvals.

On 23 January 2014, FAB Link Limited, the joint venture developing the France–Alderney–Britain interconnector, signed a Grid Connection Agreement with National Grid for a 1,400 MW connection at the Exeter 400 kV substation in Great Britain, formally securing the project’s access to the UK transmission system.

By 23 January 2014, FAB Link Ltd had entered into arrangements with the French transmission system operator RTE under which RTE would be responsible for developing the FAB project’s assets in France and French territorial waters, while FAB Link Ltd would develop and own the assets in Britain and Alderney. This agreement establishes the division of project ownership and development responsibilities between RTE for the French side and FAB Link Ltd for the UK and Alderney sections.

In 2005, FAB Link Ltd was established as a joint venture company, incorporated in Guernsey and created specifically to develop and own the FAB interconnector project. The company is owned 50% by Transmission Investment LLP and 50% by Alderney Renewable Energy Limited, and is responsible for the UK and Alderney portions of the project’s assets.

FAB Link received development funding from the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), after being recognised as a Project of Common Interest, with total CEF support reported as €7.235 million to co-fund project development activities.