FAB Link will not make landfall in Alderney

Thursday 21 July 2022

The long gestating FAB (France-Alderney-Britain) energy project will not involve Alderney, after the developers of the project announced the final route selection for the cable.

The FAB Link is a proposed undersea cable between France and England that was originally going to cut through Alderney. The States of Alderney were reportedly going to be offered £70,000 a year to allow the electricity cable to cut through the island.

FAB Link Limited and France’s public electricity provider, RTE, are partners in the endeavour and have made a final decision on the route of the cable.

“Since 2017 we have been working on the basis that we had the option to pursue either of two potential routes,” said the FAB Link Project Director, James Dickson via Fab Link’s website.

“One, which crosses Alderney, was designed to provide a route to market in the UK and France for tidal electricity generated in the island’s waters.

“The second route bypasses the island without making landfall there. Given ongoing uncertainties around the need for Alderney to export electricity, the promoters have decided to proceed with this second route.”

Pictured: Alderney will not be involved in any future plans for the FAB Link.

Mr Dickson continued: “This gives us more certainty, as we need to work with fewer permissions, approvals and licences. It is also a more cost-effective route, and it will take less time to lay the cables.

“Following our joint agreement in February to review the project and provide updated information to regulators, this marks another step forward towards our aim of securing a final investment decision and starting construction in 2025.”

Alderney representative, Alex Snowdon, says it's welcome news.

"I'm pleased FAB has stated their preferred route and given Alderney clarification on the future plans for the cable."

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FOCUS: Gradual progress maintained on FAB Link