GB regulator approves Nautilus, first Belgium-UK hybrid interconnector

Ofgem has granted regulatory approval for the Nautilus interconnector, clearing a key milestone for the Belgium-GB link. Nautilus is the first interconnector of its hybrid type between the two markets, meaning it is designed to operate across both energy trading and balancing services, a capability standard point-to-point cables do not offer.

Elia announced the decision on 12 November 2024. No in-service date or capacity figure was included in the announcement, so those details remain to be confirmed. The project sits alongside Elia's broader offshore infrastructure work, which includes the Princess Elisabeth Zone development in the Belgian North Sea.

For GB and Belgian market participants, Nautilus adds a new cross-zonal path and, once live, should expand available balancing capacity between the two TSOs. The hybrid designation means dispatch will not be limited to commercial schedules alone.