Prysmian set to achieve a new milestone with IFA2 UK-France interconnector project

“The IFA2 project is headed towards the final stages: the manufacturing phase of over 500 km of cables and accessories has been successfully completed, and most of the marine and land cables have been installed and the last offshore laying campaign will be finalized in two months. The progress is described by the Schedule Performance Index of the project, that clearly indicates that Prysmian is running ahead of schedule. But the development of the project has not been always so smooth,” said Marco.

“One of the key success factors to delivering such a complex project in less time than usual is to have the right team. The IFA2 project is also the success story of hundreds of employees coming from different nationalities working in factories, vessels, laboratories and in the field. This is the key factor for the successful progress of the IFA2 project.” concluded Marco.

Prysmian, with its high manufacturing capacity, is able to deliver turn-key projects that enable energy to flow between different networks in different countries. These interconnectors are important for three reasons.  Firstly, they ensure safe and secure energy supplies, mitigating the risk that a network fails due to damage or malfunction. Secondly, they guarantee energy that is more affordable, bringing power from cheaper markets to more expensive ones. 
That’s why the European Union refers to interconnectors as “electricity highways,” and funds them with the goal of creating a single energy market. The EU has included IFA2 on its list of PCIs, or “projects of common interest”.  

Lastly, interconnectors make sustainable energy more viable by giving producers the ability to offset the unpredictability of renewable energy sources (like wind and solar), providing countries with the ability to exchange power ensuring a safe, secure and affordable energy supply. Traditionally, energy networks were designed to distribute the stable outputs of certain number of coal-fired, methane or nuclear power plants. The birth of wind and solar centers has changed this geography and created a need to shift energy around. 
Any big infrastructure project is challenging, and IFA2 presented its own unique set of difficulties to be solved. 
Firstly, laying cable on the seabed of the English Channel meant crossing one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. Plus, the work plan had to meet the multipurpose needs of different stakeholders, such as institutions, governments, authorities, and also local communities.
“Our project team had to take account of many environmental and project stakeholders including wintering birds and fishermen’s associations to mention a few. Interfacing and protecting such delicate topics like these added complexity throughout the delivery of the project. The planning of permits and Licencing was a crucial topic on the agenda of each project meeting,” explained De Donno.