Tarchon will create a direct power link between Germany and Great Britain, connecting the two countries’ energy markets and increasing the security and reliability of their electrical systems and energy demand. If one country has a surplus of energy and the other has a shortage, this energy can be transferred to help meet the power needs during this time; and vice versa. The interconnector will be a combination of land and subsea cables approximately 750km in length and will allow 1.4GW of electricity to move in either direction.
Tarchon will create a direct power link between Germany and Great Britain, connecting the two countries’ energy markets and increasing the security and reliability of their electrical systems and energy demand.
Electricity interconnectors are physical links that allow electricity to flow between two countries or regions. They play a critical role in balancing supply and demand of energy, enhancing energy security, and integrating renewable energy sources into the grid. Interconnectors help to smooth out the peaks and troughs of demand on the system. Interconnectors consist of high-voltage cables, both subsea (underwater) and overland. Subsea cables are common for connecting countries separated by seas or oceans, like Great Britain, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and Ireland. At either end of an interconnector, there are converter stations that convert electricity between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), depending on the needs of the connected grids.
The UK has clear, legally binding targets for producing 95% of its energy from clean sources by 2030 and reducing its carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. The UK aims to reduce greenhouse emissions to 100% of 1990 levels and increase interconnector capacity to at least 18GW by 2030.
To meet its net zero ambitions, the UK needs to connect large volumes of renewable energy resources in the next decade, particularly offshore wind. Interconnectors help to support the deployment of these renewable sources by giving an easy way to import and export that power. Once constructed Tarchon will be the longest interconnector in the world. Tarchon has a capacity of 1.4 GW – this will power up to 1.5 million homes.
Tarchon represents a significant investment to the UK and Germany. Building the project will create many jobs during the multiyear development and construction phases and enable workers to develop skills and expertise in a growing global industry. Tarchon is a project of mutual interest. These are key cross-border energy infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of Great Britain and other countries in the EU. PMI projects help achieve energy policy and climate objectives: affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all citizens, and the long-term decarbonisation of the economy. We are committed to creating long term, tangible community benefits as part of the project development, such as improving skills and education locally.
We will complete social value and economic assessments to inform our plans and create meaningful opportunities for the community.
Tarchon will use the experience of other CIP projects to develop project initiatives.
In the UK, the Tarchon interconnector will come onshore in the Tendring peninsula, Essex, with a proposed landfall zone being considered south of Harwich. Underground cables will travel from landfall zone to connect with the Tarchon converter station which will transfer the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) power to High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) power. The Tarchon converter station will then connect to the proposed National Grid East Anglia Connection Node (EACN) substation, also via underground cabling.
We are in the early stages of planning Tarchon. By engaging and speaking with local communities throughout the project evolution, we plan to develop our proposals with your knowledge and feedback in mind. Our non-statutory consultation ran from 10am Monday 10th March 2025 to 10am Monday 7th April 2025.
Tarchon held four public events throughout the consultation period, where people could discuss their questions with the project team.
The events were held at:
All the feedback we received is being shared with the project team to help shape our proposals. A Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), which outlines how we intend to undertake our statutory consultation with local communities, will be drafted, shared with the local planning authority for feedback and published following this non-statutory consultation.
Feedback received at all phases of consultation will be included in a Consultation Report, which will be submitted as part of our DCO application. Click here to learn more and download the consultation materials that have been shared at the public events.
These are key cross-border energy infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of Great Britain and other countries in the EU. PMI projects help achieve energy policy and climate objectives: affordable, secure and sustainable energy for all citizens, and the long term decarbonisation of the economy.
