ABB has won an order worth £230 to connect the electricity networks of France and the UK.

It was awarded by the two nations’ network operators, National Grid and Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE).

Work has started on the 1GW interconnector, which will run from Chilling, Hampshire, on the southern coast of England to Tourbe in northern France. It covers a distance of 240 kilometres across the English Channel.

The construction phase is expected to create around 300 new jobs.

ABB will provide the two high voltage direct current converter stations, which will be linked with a subsea cable.

Each station converts the alternating current into direct current and then back again before distribution.

That is expected to provide efficient and reliable transmission of large amounts of electricity over long distances, with minimum losses.