ElecLink from Getlink SE - high-voltage cable keeps power flowing
28.06.2026 - 01:13:56 | ad-hoc-news.de
Reviewed: ad hoc news B2B & Pro desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-28, 01:13. Details in the imprint.
ElecLink from Getlink SE hums quietly behind the tunnel walls, a 51-kilometre high-voltage cable pushing power through the Channel Tunnel while most passengers just hear the soft rumble of trains. It is infrastructure you cannot see, yet operators feel its presence in their control rooms each day.
What ElecLink actually is
ElecLink is a high-voltage direct current interconnector running inside the service tunnel of the Channel Tunnel between France and the UK, designed for up to 1,000 MW of transfer capacity according to its operator. The official project overview confirms the HVDC design and location within the tunnel.
The link ties the French grid at Peuplingues to the British grid at Folkestone, effectively acting as a controllable electricity bridge between RTE and National Grid ESO. The cable itself is mounted along the service tunnel, sharing the underground route that Eurotunnel trains use, but separated for safety and maintenance access.
Capacity, commissioning and control
ElecLink offers around 1 GW of capacity, enough in theory to move power equivalent to a large nuclear unit between the two markets when fully available. Getlink announced commercial operations in mid-2022 after regulatory approvals from both British and French authorities. Getlink's own project page outlines the commissioning schedule and key milestones.
In practical terms, the interconnector is scheduled by power traders and grid operators on an hourly basis, with capacity auctions determining who can send or receive electricity across the link. In the control room, an engineer like ElecLink managing director Steven Lloyd watches real-time flows on screens, seeing the current climb towards the 1,000 MW ceiling when cross-channel prices diverge.
Background on Getlink SE and ElecLink
Power flows, tunnel operations and investor updates on ElecLink and other Getlink projects are bundled in our topic hub and the group's Investor Relations area.
How traders and consumers feel the link
At Folkestone, the converter station stands behind fences and transformers, the faint buzz of equipment audible when you walk close on a windy day. Inside, power electronics switch AC to DC and back again, smoothing flows so that traders see clean capacity and consumers simply notice fewer price spikes across seasons.
The main impact of ElecLink shows up on auction platforms and wholesale price charts. When French nuclear output is strong and British prices are higher, the cable sends electrons north-west, easing British supply and flattening peaks. In reverse, British wind power can head to France when storms push generation above local demand.
Engineering choices inside the tunnel
Getlink had to design ElecLink around tight safety constraints, as the Channel Tunnel is already a highly regulated transport corridor. The HVDC cable runs in the service tunnel rather than the rail tunnels, giving technicians a dedicated space for inspections and limiting interference with train operations. Regulatory documents from French and UK authorities highlight fire safety and ventilation adaptations for the interconnector inside the tunnel.
Cable installation took place largely at night and in carefully planned windows, when maintenance teams could open service doors and move segments without disturbing the Eurotunnel timetable. Engineers used special supports and brackets to keep the cable anchored along the curved walls, working under strict temperature and humidity monitoring to protect insulation quality.
Regulation and market access
As an interconnector, ElecLink operates under licenses and exemptions granted by British regulator Ofgem and French regulator CRE. These frameworks define how much capacity can be sold long-term, how much remains for short-term markets and how congestion revenues are handled. An Ofgem decision document illustrates how ElecLink slots into UK capacity market rules.
For traders, the key is transparent access and reliable availability. Auction schedules for ElecLink capacity appear on established platforms, and outages are published through regulatory channels. When the cable is fully available, it adds another path for arbitrage between French and British power markets, alongside other links such as IFA and IFA2.
Where ElecLink helps and where it cannot
ElecLink’s 1 GW rating is meaningful but not a cure-all for supply crunches, especially in winter peaks. It can share surplus or support neighbours during stress events, yet it cannot replace lost generation capacity on its own. Instead, the link acts as a flexible tool in the dispatch toolbox for grid operators.
Another limit is the tunnel environment itself, which constrains future upgrades. Adding a second cable of similar size would require significant engineering work and regulatory scrutiny, given the shared infrastructure. For now, Getlink focuses on keeping the existing interconnector highly available rather than promising rapid expansions.
Context and the Getlink share price
For Getlink, ElecLink is part of a broader strategy to use the Channel Tunnel not just for passenger and freight trains but also as an energy corridor and data route. The company highlights ElecLink alongside rail and shuttle operations when discussing diversification with analysts and investors.
Getlink shares (ISIN FR0010533075) trade on Euronext Paris, with the ElecLink project presented in financial reports as a regulated, long-term asset that contributes to recurring revenue alongside transport activities.
Key facts on ElecLink
- Product: ElecLink interconnector
- Manufacturer: Getlink SE
- Category: B2B energy infrastructure
- Launch: Commercial operations from mid-2022
- RRP / Price: Regulated asset, revenues via capacity auctions and grid arrangements
- Availability: Operates between Peuplingues (France) and Folkestone (UK) via the Channel Tunnel
- Target group: Power traders, grid operators and institutional investors
- Highlight / USP: 1,000 MW HVDC cable installed inside the Channel Tunnel service tube, directly connecting French and British grids
This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.
