A bold plan to link Iceland’s geothermal energy with the UK’s power grid could help avert future blackouts and provide a clean, stable energy supply to millions of homes.
City financier Edi Truell, a self-proclaimed “disruptive capitalist”, is preparing to begin construction on the £3.5 billion Atlantic Superconnection – a 400-mile subsea cable that would transmit renewable electricity generated by Icelandic volcanoes and hydropower to the UK.
Set to begin construction before the end of 2025, the interconnector will have the capacity to power around 2 million British homes.
“It’s what the National Grid calls ‘flexible base load’ – it’s always there,” Truell told The Telegraph. He believes that reliable imports of green energy will be crucial in helping the UK avoid electricity shortfalls like those recently experienced in Spain and Portugal, which were hit by the biggest blackout in living memory.
“They needed gigawatts from France, but the French didn’t have them,” Truell said. If the Icelandic project had been operational, he claims, it could have supported the existing interconnector between Britain and Norway to provide an extra 4,000 megawatts. “That would have freed up French power to free up Spain’s,” he added.
The Atlantic Superconnection aligns with wider ambitions to boost energy resilience while reducing emissions.
Geothermal and hydroelectric sources in Iceland are abundant, renewable and available year-round – offering a reliable alternative to fossil fuels and intermittent renewables.
Interconnectors are seen as a key part of the energy transition. They allow electricity to be shared between nations, balancing supply and demand while enhancing energy security.
As the climate crisis drives up pressure on grids, these cross-border cables offer a more resilient and sustainable solution.
If successful, the project could represent a major step in Europe’s clean energy integration – and help ensure the lights stay on.
