Developers are exploring the feasibility of connecting distant regions, such as Canada to the UK and Australia to Singapore, through cables that could extend more than 4,000km, reported Financial Times.
These projects aim to capitalise on the growth of renewable energy and the potential to balance supply and demand across different time zones and weather conditions.
The Viking interconnector, a two-way electricity cable, commenced commercial operations at the end of 2023, marking a milestone in connecting Britain and Denmark's electricity markets.
Spanning 765km across land and sea, this joint venture between the UK’s National Grid and Denmark’s Energinet harnesses the varying weather patterns across the North Sea to optimise electricity trading.
Despite the progress, these undertakings come with price tags and complex challenges. They require investment, both public and private, and face risks such as stretched supply chains and potential sabotage.
Yet, if successful, they may accelerate the transition from fossil fuels and forge new energy ties between economies.
The SunCable-led AAPowerLink project aims to transmit solar-generated electricity from Australia's Northern Territory to Singapore, involving a 4,300km cable and a $26.4bn investment.
Furthermore, clean energy investment banker Laurent Segalen and interconnector developer Simon Ludlam are exploring a 4,000km cable linking North America and Europe. This could allow the UK to utilise Canada's hydropower during its low-demand periods and vice versa.
However, the global demand for electrical equipment and protectionist policies are straining the supply chain, causing delays and uncertainties.
Political tensions over the equitable benefits of interconnectors also pose a challenge, as seen in Norway's debate over its energy exports.
The complexity of laying cables on the seabed adds another layer of difficulty, highlighted Fiachra Ó Cléirigh, executive vice-president at the engineering consultancy Jacobs.
The UK Government's refusal to back the Xlinks project, a proposed one-way cable from Morocco to the UK, underscores the inherent risks involved in such ventures.
Despite these hurdles, proponents such as James Humfrey, CEO of the Morocco-UK Power Project, and Ludlam remain optimistic about the transformative potential of long-distance electricity cables for global energy collaboration and sustainability.
