A MAJOR project to keep the lights on in the UK could run from a site in Hampshire.

National Grid wants to build an electricity interconnector between France and Daedalus, near Fareham, that would help to import energy from all across Europe.

It would transfer around 1GW of electricity from Caen in Normandy to the other side of the Channel through 120 miles of undersea cabling - enough to power more than a million UK homes.

The IFA2 scheme, or Farelink as the council has labelled it, would be the second interconnector from the UK to France and those involved say this link will help enhance the security, affordability and sustainability of energy supply to both countries.

Cllr Sean Woodward, who announced the £500million project, said money generated to Fareham, which he said would be in the millions, would benefit the Daedalus site and help meet the Solent Enterprise Zone's target to create 3,500 jobs there quicker.

It could also lead to a cafe and visitor centre for the airfield, runway lighting and an extended runway.

Although the interconnector would not need many people to run it, Cllr Woodward said there would be dozens of jobs created during construction.

The converter station at Fareham would convert alternating current, which is used domestically in the UK and France, into direct current so it can be transmitted between the two countries.

This would also allow Britain to export any excess energy it produces to Europe.

A seven storey high building would occupy some of a 10 acre proposed brownfield site in the north east of Daedalus, an area that already houses an airfield and manufacturing within the marine, defence and aerospace sectors.

The land, owned by Fareham Borough Council, would be leased or sold to National Grid.

National Grid first approached Hampshire County Council several months ago about building the device at Chilling, Warsash, where it already has a site, but was met with concern about damaging the beauty spot.

So the less sensitive site at Daedalus was put forward.

Undersea cabling will transfer power between Daedalus and Chilling to connect to the national grid.

Cllr Woodward said without the scheme it was likely that "the lights will go out" in the UK as it struggled to provide enough energy.

But he said the council would be making sure that the plans would not have any implications on airfield navigation or public health.

Fareham Borough Council's cabinet will decide on whether to sell the land on December 7 and a planning application is expected March next year.

If approved work could start as early as 2017 and the interconnector running by 2020.

Stewart Dunn, Chair of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said he welcomed the local jobs and steps to ensure a sustainable power supply to homes and businesses.

"It's absolutely essential and particularly after the announcement last month of the closure of Navitus Bay project."

National Grid will hold a number of exhibitions. They are at:

  • December 8 – Lockswood Community Centre, Locks Heath, 1.30pm-5.30pm
  • December 9 – St Faith's Parish Centre, Lee-on-the-Solent, 4pm – 8pm
  • December 10 - Stubbington Baptist Church, Stubbington, 3pm-7pm
  • December 11 - Warsash Victory Hall, Warsash, 4pm – 8pm
  • December 12 - Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington, 10am – 4pm