Co-developer National Grid said in a statement that the “positive step forward” means that project partner Statnett now has all the necessary licences to allow the £1 billion project to be built.
“We’ve been working together on the NSN Link between the two countries for four years and today’s announcement is a signal that the Norwegian government isfully supportive of the project,” said National Grid’s director of European business development, Alan Foster.
The 750km interconnector is expected to allow the UK to import Norwegian hydro power generation to balance the intermittency of domestic renewables.
National Grid said it was now awaiting the outcome of a submission to Ofgem which would determine the commercial framework for the link.
The decision is expected later this year.