Overview
NeuConnect is one of the UK’s most ambitious energy infrastructure projects, creating a 725km subsea interconnector between the UK and Germany. At the Isle of Grain landfall site in Kent, our PE ducting was used to protect the high-voltage power cables as they transitioned from sea to shore. This installation provided the durability, flexibility, and protection needed for a once-in-a-generation project that will help power millions of homes.
Project task
At the UK landfall site, contractors faced several critical challenges:
Harsh coastal environment – saltwater, tidal activity, and abrasive ground conditions demanded a duct system resistant to corrosion and mechanical stress.
Cable protection – HVDC cables require robust, continuous protection from shore to inland transition points.
Construction complexity – trenchless landfall methods, narrow working windows due to tides, and space restrictions required a ducting system that was lightweight, flexible, and easy to handle.
Any failure in protection at this transition point could have jeopardised the integrity of the interconnector — a project worth billions and critical to UK-Germany energy security.
Solution
We worked with the contractor to supply high-strength C1+ ENA TS 12-24 HDPE ducting designed specifically for heavy-duty power applications. The system was delivered in continuous lengths, enabling efficient pulling of HVDC cables from the subsea landing into the onshore substation route.
Key benefits included:
Durability in hostile conditions – PE’s resistance to corrosion and impact made it ideal for a coastal environment.
Ease of handling – long lengths and flexibility reduced the number of joints, simplifying installation in constrained working areas.
Seamless protection – providing a fully enclosed ducting pathway safeguarded the high-voltage cables for their operational lifetime.
Project support – our logistics team ensured just-in-time deliveries aligned with narrow construction windows dictated by tidal access.
The landfall connection was completed to schedule, helping keep NeuConnect on track for energisation. The interconnector will enable the exchange of up to 1.4GW of electricity — enough to power around 1.5 million homes.
