UK interconnectors are high-voltage links that move electricity between Great Britain and neighbouring countries, allowing imports and exports in real time.
What Interconnectors Do
Interconnectors are the links between the UK and other countries’ electricity systems.
They’re high-voltage cables—mostly under the sea—that allow electricity to flow in and out of Great Britain. That means the UK can import power when it needs it and export power when there’s surplus available.
The UK is currently connected to several neighbouring markets, including France, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Ireland.
How to read the numbers
Interconnector flows are shown in gigawatts (GW).
- A positive value means electricity is being imported into Great Britain
- A negative value means electricity is being exported
The direction can change throughout the day depending on demand, generation, weather and electricity prices.
Interconnectors aren’t generators—but from the grid’s perspective, they can act a bit like one. They can supply power when importing, or absorb excess when exporting.
Why imports matter
Imports can help when the UK needs extra electricity.
That might be because:
- demand is high
- wind and solar output are low
- or electricity is cheaper elsewhere
For example, the UK might import hydro-powered electricity from Norway, nuclear-heavy supply from France, or surplus renewable energy from other countries.
But imports aren’t automatically “clean”—it depends on how that electricity was generated.
Why exports matter
Exports are the flip side.
When the UK has more electricity than it needs—often during strong wind conditions—it can send that power to other countries. This helps avoid wasting renewable energy and makes better use of what’s being generated.
Exports can also happen simply because prices are more attractive in other markets at that moment.
A connected system
Interconnectors make the grid more flexible and more resilient.
They provide access to additional supply if something unexpected happens, like a generator going offline or demand rising quickly. But they’re not guaranteed—flows depend on:
- availability of the cables
- conditions in neighbouring countries
- and market pricing
If multiple countries are experiencing the same conditions (like a cold, still winter period), imports may be more limited.
What the flows tell you
Watching interconnector flows can give you a quick read on what’s happening beyond the UK.
- Heavy imports might mean the UK needs extra supply
- Heavy exports often point to strong domestic generation (especially wind)
- Low flows can mean things are relatively balanced
It’s not the full story—but it’s a useful clue.
Interconnectors and carbon
Interconnectors also affect carbon intensity—but not always in obvious ways.
Importing low-carbon electricity can reduce emissions. Importing fossil-heavy electricity can increase them. Exporting surplus wind can help reduce emissions in other countries, even if the UK is already running clean.
So the impact isn’t just local—it’s part of a wider, connected system.
On this page
The chart here shows recent import and export flows so you can see how they’ve changed over the last 24 hours.
For the full picture, compare it with generation and demand. Together, they show whether the UK is relying on imports—or exporting excess power to the rest of the network.
Return to the live UK electricity dashboard
Page freshness signal: live data checked Mon, 04 May 2026 11:00 BST.