Editing HVDC Cross-Channel (section)

{{short description|Submarine HVDC interconnector between the UK and France}}
{{Infobox power transmission line
| name                = HVDC Cross-Channel<br />Interconnexion France Angleterre
| photo               = Sellindge Converter Station - geograph.org.uk - 413724.jpg
| caption             = Sellindge Converter Station on the UK side of the interconnector
| map                 = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=7}}
| map_caption         = Location of Cross-Channel<br />Interconnexion France Angleterre
| country             = [[France]], [[United Kingdom]]
| state               = 
| province            = 
| coordinates         = 
| lat                 = 
| long                = 
| direction           = North-South
| start               = [[Sellindge]], United Kingdom 
| through             = [[English Channel]]
| finish              = [[Bonningues-lès-Calais]], France
| par                 = 
| owner               = 
| partners            = [[National Grid plc]]<br />[[Réseau de Transport d'Électricité]]
| operator            = 
| cable_manufacturer  = [[Alstom]]
| cable_installer     = 
| cable_layer         = 
| substation_manufacturer= [[ASEA]] (160{{nbsp}}MW scheme); [[Alstom]] (2,000{{nbsp}}MW scheme)
| substation_installer= 
| contractors         = 
| construction        = 1985 (2,000{{nbsp}}MW scheme)
| expected            = 
| est                 = 1986 (2,000{{nbsp}}MW scheme)
| decom               = 
| type                = submarine cable
| current_type        = [[HVDC]]
| length_km           = 73
| capacity            = 2,000{{nbsp}}MW
| AC_voltage          = 400{{nbsp}}kV
| DC_voltage          = ±270{{nbsp}}kV
| poles_no            = 4 (2 bipoles)
| circuits_no         = 
}}
The '''HVDC Cross-Channel''' ({{langx|fr|'''Interconnexion France Angleterre IFA 2000'''}}) is the {{convert|73|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[high-voltage direct current]] (HVDC) [[interconnector]] that has operated since 1986 under the [[English Channel]] between the [[Synchronous grid of Continental Europe|continental European grid]] at [[Bonningues-lès-Calais]] and the British [[electricity grid]] at [[Sellindge]]. The cable is also known as '''IFA''',<ref>{{Cite web |title=IFA |url=https://ifa1interconnector.com/ifa/ |website=ifa1interconnector.com |access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interconnector customer portal &#124; National Grid Group |url=https://www.nationalgrid.com/our-businesses/national-grid-ventures/interconnectors-connecting-cleaner-future/interconnector-customer-portal |website=www.nationalgrid.com |access-date=2025-05-03}}</ref> and should not be confused with the new [[IFA-2]], another interconnect with France that is three times as long but only half as powerful.

The current 2,000{{nbsp}}MW link is bi-directional and the countries can import or export depending upon market demands, mostly depending upon weather conditions and availability of renewable energy on the British Isles, and French surplus of nuclear generation or demand for electric heating. It was completed in 1986, and replaced the first cross-Channel link which was a 160{{nbsp}}MW link completed in 1961 and decommissioned in 1984.

A fire in September 2021 caused the link to be removed from service. National Grid announced that half of its capacity would be restored on 20 October 2021, with full capacity being restored by October 2023.<ref name="guardian-20211015" />