Britain's National Grid has granted contracts totaling 1.5 billion euros ($1.7 billion) to firms implicated in building the first power link between Britain and Norway.
Three international companies will construct the interconnector, which National Grid declared would be the longest worldwide at 740 km (459 miles), and cross from Blyth, Northumberland, in Britain to Kvilldal in Rogaland, Norway.
The NSN connection will establish a direct link between the two countries' energy systems and has a capacity of 1.4 gigawatts. It is likely to start operation by 2021.
The companies granted contracts are Italian cable provider Prysmian, French cable supplier Nexans and power technology firm ABB, which will supply the convertor stations. The projected cost of the project is between 1.5 billion euros and 2 billion euros, shared equally by Norwegian transmission system operator Statnett and National Grid.
The connection is intended to supply additional power transmission capacity and it could help bring down electricity prices in both countries, according to National Grid and Statnett.
