How a Loose Anchor Cut Up Britain’s Power Link With France
Business: Washington Post Business Page, Business News
▻http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-OHIJF66JTSEL01-312DKCRPH7ARD5NRSLNHHD2SJD
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Autumn storms often do damage to Britain’s electricity networks as falling trees bring down local power cables.
Angus, a November 20 gale that brought gusts of more than 80 miles an hour, flooding and localized power cuts, had a more dramatic impact than most. At least one ship pulled off course in the English channel dragged its anchor through a giant power cable linking the U.K. with France, according to people familiar with the matter.
It will take until at least February to repair the power cable, depriving both nations of 50 percent of their mutual import and export capacity. Reduced access to British exports of cheaper electricity has increased the chance of power cuts in France this winter, French grid operator Reseau de Transport d’Electricite SA said Thursday. The grid operator warned last month that it may need to take measures such as rolling blackouts.
The cables are buried under the seabed, so the full extent of the damage isn’t yet known and investigations and repairs will take time. Sonar technology will probably be needed to determine whether some of the cables are completely split, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The affected area is 5 kilometers off the British coast at a depth of 20 meters.