Partner National Grid plc | Commissioned 2000 Construction started 1999 Type of current Alternating current | |
Similar Severn Barrage, Blackpool United Hebrew, Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Blackpool Reform Jewish C, Noor‑A‑Madina Mosque | ||
The Isle of Man to England Interconnector is a submarine power cable connecting the transmission system of the Manx Electricity Authority to that of Great Britain. With an undersea section of approximately 104 kilometres (65 mi), it is the longest AC undersea cable in the world. It was laid in 1999 between Bispham, Blackpool, England, and Douglas Head on the Isle of Man, commencing commercial operations in November 2000. It is capable of continuous operation of 40 MW at 90 kV.
The cable was manufactured in two parts: one section at BICC in Erith and the other at Pirelli Cables in Southampton.
Once completed, the cable ended the Isle of Man's dependence on locally powered diesel generation. Power supplies to the island were further reinforced in 2003 by an 85-MW combined cycle gas turbine power station at Pulrose, in the capital, Douglas.