Nautilus, a National Grid project to connect energy between UK and Belgium, could come back to Friston after plans for Isle of Grain fail

A proposed major energy project between the UK and Belgium could be coming back to Suffolk after plans to move it to Kent failed.

National Grid explored the possibility of taking the infrastructure for Nautilus, a project which could power 1.7 million homes, to the Isle of Grain, Kent, in an 18-month-long investigation.

However, regulator Ofgem said in March it would not approve of this due to constraint costs, meaning Nautilus has moved back to its original connection agreement at Friston.

Ofgem opened a consultation on the connection in East Suffolk on July 15 and is due to end on August 15, with the results expected by the autumn.

Gareth Burden, construction director for National Grid, said: “The connection agreement for the proposed Nautilus interconnector has always been at Friston.

“In response to community concerns about the number of energy projects taking place in Suffolk, we explored the possibility of moving Nautilus to the Isle of Grain.

“The cost of upgrading the network around Grain to transmit power between Nautilus and the electricity system would be too high for consumers.

“We understand that people have questions about the impact of energy projects on their local area – local knowledge and experience are crucial to the development of projects like Nautilus, and we look forward to the public’s feedback on our plans during the 2026 consultation.”

Mr Burden added, with demand for energy set to double in the next 25 years, the project would help to ensure the country is able to meet this need both now and in the future.

Tom Daly, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for energy and climate change, has expressed his anger and disappointment at the redirecting of Nautilus back to Friston.

He said he acknowledged the decision from Ofgem to not approve the proposals at the Isle of Grain, but ‘never anticipated’ Friston would be put back on the table.

“I was incredibly frustrated to learn that Ofgem had announced that it is consulting on the possibility of Nautilus connecting once again at Friston within East Suffolk,” he said.

“This is yet another huge and incongruous industrial development in our precious countryside to be seen alongside all the other proposals this community is being swamped by.”

Cllr Daly said, with the justification for the change of tack being cost-related, Ofgem is putting price over environmental, community and social harm.

He added it represents a lack of a coordinated approach and pays ‘lip service’ to the work of the council.

The Ofgem consultation on Friston will consider the socio-economic impacts of the project.

The village is also in the infrastructure proposals for Sea Link and LionLink, which could be coordinated with Nautilus.