HVDC Cross-Channel

HVDC Cross-Channel Interconnexion France Angleterre
Sellindge Converter Station on the UK side of the interconnector
Location of Cross-Channel Interconnexion France Angleterre
Location
Country	France, United Kingdom
General direction	North-South
From	Sellindge, United Kingdom
Passes through	English Channel
To	Bonningues-lès-Calais, France
Ownership information
Partners	National Grid plc Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
Construction information
Manufacturer of conductor/cable	Alstom
Manufacturer of substations	ASEA (160 MW scheme); Alstom (2,000 MW scheme)
Construction started	1985 (2,000 MW scheme)
Commissioned	1986 (2,000 MW scheme)
Technical information
Type	submarine cable
Type of current	HVDC
Total length	73 km (45 mi)
Power rating	2,000 MW
AC voltage	400 kV
DC voltage	±270 kV
No. of poles	4 (2 bipoles)

The HVDC Cross-Channel (French: Interconnexion France Angleterre IFA 2000) is the 73-kilometre-long (45 mi) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector that has operated since 1986 under the English Channel between the continental European grid at Bonningues-lès-Calais and the British electricity grid at Sellindge. The cable is also known as IFA,^[1][2] and should not be confused with the new IFA-2, another interconnect with France that is three times as long but only half as powerful.

The current 2,000 MW link is bi-directional and the countries can import or export depending upon market demands, mostly depending upon weather conditions and availability of renewable energy on the British Isles, and French surplus of nuclear generation or demand for electric heating. It was completed in 1986, and replaced the first cross-Channel link which was a 160 MW link completed in 1961 and decommissioned in 1984.

A fire in September 2021 caused the link to be removed from service. National Grid announced that half of its capacity would be restored on 20 October 2021, with full capacity being restored by October 2023.^[3]