Works associated with the laying of the undersea electricity cable between the UK and Norway have been approved by the MMO.
The Norwegian government gave consent for the development in its waters in October 2014 with the Secretary of State for Climate Change, Ed Davey, commenting on its significance.
The high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable will be the first of its kind between the two countries and will enable the cross-border trading of electricity. Power may flow through the cable in either direction at different times, depending on the supply and demand in each country.
The cable will run from Hylen, in southwest Norway, to the Northumberland coast and a converter station in Blyth. Its route in UK waters is expected to be approximately 340km long and it will be buried at depths between 1m and 2m below the seabed.
The MMO considered the application, from National Grid NSN Link Limited, under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, in particular section 81, which covers submarine cables. Public consultation on the development took place in Spring 2014, with Northumberland County Council(PDF) also considering applications for land-based activities relating to the development.
Press release; Image: Statnett