Category: Nemo News

Nemo Link wish to announce an update on the Regional Nomination Platform RNP.

As you may be aware RNP is a Consortium, whereby multiple Interconnectors including Nemo Link, IFA, IFA2, and Viking Link are party to the current contract to provide the Nominations system and services.

The current contract with RNP will end in February 2027, and for regulatory reasons the contract cannot be extended any further.  With this in mind, the Consortium made a decision to go back out to tender and retain that Consortium approach with Nemo Link, National Grid Ventures, RTE and Energinet. This approach retains close collaboration and agreement with all parties in order to drive efficiencies and optimisations for a Nomination platform moving forward.

For your information, the Request for Purchase (RFP) for RNP v2 has been issued and below is a high-level overview of the project timeline (with indicative key milestones):

What does all of this mean for our collective Interconnector Customers? 

We are keen to get you involved!

The Project Manager for RNP v2, Sarah Hadley, will be implementing a Market Engagement Group (MEG) for all customers that would like to attend.

There will be monthly Teams meetings from September/October 2024, with some also being in person in 2025. This gives the project a good opportunity to keep you informed of progress, as well as affording customers good opportunities to ask questions.

There will be various points where we will ask for input, for example testing of RNP v2 ahead of the platform Go Live. More details of these points will be given as we get a little further through the procurement process.

If you would like to be involved in the Market Engagement Group for RNP2 and receive the invitations and updates, please can you respond back to: box.RNP2-MEG@nationalgrid.com.

Should you have any questions on this or discuss any other matters, please do not hesitate to contact the Nemo Link Customer Team.

Nemo Link, the first electricity interconnector between the UK and Belgium, today completed its first 5-year milestone with exceptional commercial and operational performance.

29.6 TWH (terawatt hours) of power has been transported between Great Britain and Belgium since the link went live on 31^st January 2019 enabling electricity to be shared between the two countries for the first time.

Over the 5-year period, Nemo Link was available 99.5% outside of its planned maintenance schedule, making it one of the most reliable assets of its kind in the world.

Nemo Link demonstrated how key its role is in strengthening security of supply for British and Belgian consumers and enabling the onshore TSOs to react quickly to changes in supply due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation. To date more than 24.75 TWH has been imported to GB, and 4.25 TWH being exported over the link to Belgium.

Nemo Link is also the first interconnector to be delivered under the so-called ‘Cap and Floor’ regulatory framework, which sets a maximum and minimum revenue levels. In other words, this model ensures a profit on investment while limiting the level of return. Thanks to its outstanding commercial performances during its first 5 years of operation, Nemo Link is expected to return over 200 million euro to the British and Belgium consumers. This will result in grid tariffs being reduced by more than 100 million euro in each country.

Nemo Link, the first electricity interconnector between the UK and Belgium, recorded exceptional performance in 2022. The subsea cable was available 99% of the time last year, making it one of the most reliable assets of its kind in the world. It’s also important to note that there was no unplanned maintenance during this period.

5.7 TWh of electricity were exchanged between the two countries in 2022. For the first time, the flows between the two countries were almost identical (with import flows to Belgium 45% of the time in 2022, against only 4% in 2021).

Nemo Link demonstrated how key its role is in strengthening security of supply for British and Belgian consumers. For example, in July, the 140 kilometer link avoided major supply problems in London.

The subsea interconnector also provides more opportunities for balancing grids and limiting the impact of imbalance between supply and demand, which is increasingly important with the growth of intermittent renewables. The additional flexibility provided by the high voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector could limit peaks in imbalance prices.

Nemo Link is also the first interconnector to be delivered under the so-called ‘Cap and Floor’ regulatory framework, which sets a maximum and minimum revenue levels. The Belgian and British regulators have recently approved a Within Period Adjustment request by Nemo Link, which will deliver around  to consumers earlier than expected. This will result in grid tariffs being reduced by €67.2 million in each country.

We are pleased to announce that the Nemo Link’s modified Access Rules have been approved by the GB and Belgium regulators.

This notice, made in accordance with Article A5.1 of the approved Access Rules serves to bring the Nemo Link Access Rules v4 into effect for capacity delivered from 1st January 2023.

This version of the Access Rules has also been published on the Publication page of the Nemo Link website, together with the current Access Rules effective until 31st December 2022.

As previously communicated, changes included in the new Access Rules are:

1. Returning to a Loss Adjusted Day Ahead Market Spread (LADAMS) based compensation for curtailments ensuring operation remains within operational security limits before the day-ahead firmness deadline (Article 59.1, Appendix 1 Rules for Forward Capacity Allocation on the GB-Belgian Border); and
2. Enabling Long Term right returns in months with a planned maintenance period (Article 38.2, Appendix 1 Rules for Forward Capacity Allocation on the GB-Belgian Border); and
3. Clarifying the treatment of allocated rights when the JAO Participation Agreement has been suspended (Article 71.5, Appendix 1 Rules for Forward Capacity Allocation on the GB-Belgian Border); and
4. Earlier opening of the Long Term nomination gate brought forward from 16:30 CE(S)T D-2 to 13:30 CE(S)T D-2 (Article 6.1, Appendix 2 Nomination Rules for Long Term Transmission Rights on the GB-Belgian Border); and
5. Housekeeping changes in light of the revised Harmonised Allocation Rules.

Nemo Link considers that the approved Access Rules will better achieve all relevant access rules objectives provided by the  aforementioned amendments,  particularly with the enhanced financial firmness and by enabling market participants to participate in Long Term auctions with more confidence and  less  risk, as detailed in our consultation proposal for modifying the Access Rules.

If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Nemo Link Customer Team.

Earlier this year, Nemo Link launched a consultation on the latest version of its Access Rules. We are pleased to inform market participants that the modification proposals of the Access Rules have been submitted to the GB and Belgian regulators for their approval.

Many thanks for all the responses we received from the Access Rules consultation. We highly value your feedback and thank you for your time in putting together your comments.

Proposed changes in the consultation

The main changes are driven by customer feedback received in our customer survey, and house-keeping changes resulting from the latest version of the Harmonised Allocation Rules.  These include:

1. Returning to a Loss Adjusted Day Ahead Market Spread based compensation for curtailments ensuring operation remains within operational security limits before the day-ahead firmness deadline; and
2. Enabling Long Term right returns in months with a planned maintenance period; and
3. Clarifying the treatment of allocated rights when the JAO Participation Agreement has been suspended; and
4. Earlier opening of the Long Term nomination gate brought forward from 16:30 CE(S)T D-2 to 13:30 CE(S)T D-2.

Proposed changes submitted for regulatory approval

The above changes have been submitted to the both regulators Ofgem and CREG. In addition, some minor changes have been made in the Access Rules submission for regulatory approval compared to the consulted documents, namely:

• Further aligning with the Harmonised Allocation Rules (to reflect 2019 and 2021 HAR changes).
• Removing the proposed wording from the consultation in article 71.4 (Appendix 1- Rules for Forward Capacity Allocation on the GB-Belgian Border) and instead adding the text from the latest HARs in article 71.5 (with regards to change c: Clarifying the treatment of allocated rights when the JAO Participation Agreement has been suspended).
• Correction of an error made in the consultation with regards to the closing of the Long Term nomination gate (it should be 8:45 CE(S)T D-1 as it is in our current approved Access Rules instead of 9:00 CE(S)T D-1 as written in the consultation).

Timeline

Subject to regulatory approval, we envisage implementation of the new Access Rules around December 2022. As soon as we receive a decision from the regulators, we will issue a notice for entry into force to the market.

If you have any questions on our proposed Access Rules in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the Nemo Link Customer Team.

Nemo Link, Ross Robotics, Elia Group and Siemens Energy develop robots to inspect live HVDC converter halls

• The use of robots in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter hall inspections will reduce the risks, time and costs associated with manual inspections
• The development of robots which have electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) will allow inspections without the need to temporarily switch off the interconnector

HVDC technology facilitates the large-scale integration of renewables into the system, since it allows the efficient transportation of massive amounts of electricity over very long distances. Nemo Link’s assets include two HVDC converter halls, which, due to their electromagnetic fields, may need to be temporarily switched off for inspection and maintenance purposes.

The four partners are aiming to develop EMC autonomous robots, tailoring the modular platform of a robot developed by Ross Robotics so that it can be used in a converter hall environment. The collaboration will therefore see the creation of a new robot, which is fully compatible with electromagnetic fields and can operate autonomously. It will carry smart sensors and cameras, helping to detect potential issues, reduce the risk of unexpected outages and minimise downtime for ad hoc repair work. Ultimately, this will maximise both the operation time of converter halls and the continuous flow of renewables between Belgium and the UK.

Updated on 22/09/2021

We are pleased to confirm that the Nemo Link Interconnector will return to service on 24/09/2021 at 12:00 CEST as per the updated REMIT (see below) following its annual planned outage this week. Available capacity (subject to restrictions from the onshore TSOs) for delivery day 24/09/2021 from 12:00 CEST will be offered in the Nemo Link day-ahead auction on JAO which will run on 23/09/2021 from 09:00 to 09:30 CEST.

——————

REMIT details

Outage type: Planned

Outage start: 2021-09-21  07:00:00 CET/CEST
Outage end: 2021-09-24  12:00:00 CET/CEST

New Generation capacity: 0
New Demand capacity: 0

Event status: Active
Message version: 6.0

Check the REMIT messages at:

https://www.bmreports.com/bmrs/?q=remit/10X1001C–00004R-ELXP-RMT-49033796/6/NEMO1

https://www.bmreports.com/bmrs/?q=remit/10X1001C–00004R-ELXP-RMT-20102840/6/NEMO1

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Customer Team.

Updated on 18/09/2021

Please be advised that Nemo Link has changed the times and dates of its annual planned outage for 2021.  The outage will now commence a day later on Tuesday 21^st September 2021 and run through Friday 24^th  September 2021:

Start Time

Start Date

End Time

End Date

Interconnector Capacity

07:00 (CEST)

21/09/2021

23:00 (CEST)

24/09/2021

0 MW

 The changes to the programme were notified on the REMIT page of the BMREPORTS website. Please note that all timings are in GMT on the REMIT portal.

If you have any questions, please contact the Nemo Link Customer Team.

We hear more and more about the vital role of interconnectors in connecting to a Net Zero future but we’re not often told how the past can be rediscovered and preserved in the build of an interconnector… It’s the story of the Nemo Link Interconnector and the discovery of a mysterious 18th century cannon.

Discovery of the cannon

Pegwell Bay, the location of the Nemo Link connection point in England, is already famous in history as the landing site of Julius Caesar’s invading Roman army in 54BC.  Before construction, Nemo Link commissioned Wessex Archaeology to undertake a programme of specialist archaeological consultancy for the UK element of the marine cable route. The survey data relating to the cable route were assessed for archaeology, which identified ‘anomalies’ that could be damaged by, or cause damage, during the laying of the interconnector cables.

In 2016, a magnetic anomaly was identified during one of these surveys, off the Kent coast (South East England) that indicated buried metal material that could be of archaeological interest. The site was visually inspected the following year by marine archaeological experts using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that identified it as a heavily concreted cannon. The object was recovered from the seabed and taken to Wessex Archaeology’s Coastal and Marine department in Salisbury, Wiltshire for further analysis.

Interesting features and findings to the gun’s history

When the cannon was lifted, it was covered in a thick ‘concretion’ of natural marine material which had built up on its surface over the centuries spent on the seabed.

The cannon’s lead apron, which covered the touch hole where the gun was lit, was still attached with retaining strings, suggesting that the gun was still in use when it was lost.

The cannon’s tampion – a wooden stopper used to close the muzzle of the gun barrel – was found sealing its bore, suggesting it could have been loaded at the time of its loss.

The shape and proportions of the cannon suggest it was cast to the ‘Borgard pattern’, meaning it is likely to have been cast between 1715 and 1727. Three pounder guns such as this one were often used as a defensive measure by merchant ships.

Relocation of the cannon

The Wessex Archaeology team have also helped Nemo Link design a bespoke display case for this interesting discovery to contribute to the cannon’s long-term preservation. The cannon is now installed in its custom case, made by conservation experts Armour Systems and showcased in our office at 35 Homer Road, Solihull, UK.

We are excited to showcase this piece of history while continuing to play our part in accelerating to a clean energy future.  Perhaps in 300 years a part of Nemo Link, our interconnector will also be proudly on display explaining how it enabled the sharing of renewable energy across Europe?