IFA-2, Electrical submarine cable system between Chilling, United Kingdom and Tourbe, France
IFA-2 is a high-voltage submarine cable connecting England and France across the English Channel to transport electricity between the two countries. The line runs over 200 kilometers underwater using advanced technology to deliver large amounts of power reliably.
Planning for this interconnector started in the 2000s to meet growing electricity demand and improve energy supply between Britain and France. After completion in 2021, it became a key part of European power infrastructure.
The interconnector represents a collaborative achievement between National Grid UK and RTE France, strengthening international power distribution networks across borders.
The project is managed by operators National Grid UK and RTE France, who ensure the connection operates reliably. Visitors are more likely to see the technical facilities at the landing points than the hidden cable beneath the sea.
The cable makes landfall at Monks Hill Beach on the English coast, where it connects to a major substation that directs power into the British network. In France it lands at Tourbe and connects to a modern facility there, feeding energy into the French system.
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