Select a region
A controversial underwater power cable project involving Alderney which inspired uproar from locals, police and newspaper investigations, and even a ‘murder’ will no longer be touching the island.
After years of confusion and controversy, the decision not to run FAB Link through the third largest Channel Island was confirmed this week.
Express looks back...
FAB Link was due to stretch from the Cotentin Peninsula in northern France to the UK national grid near Exeter.
Originally due to run through Alderney - home to some of Europe's best tidal resources, sufficient to generate in excess of 3,000MW - the link was intended to provide a future connection point to pump tidal energy across the Channel allowing for reduced bills and better energy security for Britain.
However, with the building of a power substation also on the cards, Alderney residents were vocal in their opposition, arguing that the development would ruin the island’s character.
Pictured: The previous proposed route of the FAB Link.
It was understood that installing FAB Link infrastructure would involve digging a trench through Longis Common, where the electricity cables would be laid.
Longis Common is the site of graves - possibly containing thousands of bodies - dating back to the tragic years of German occupation of Alderney, which included hosting labour and concentration camps.
Campaigning against the project began in earnest in 2016 with a meeting where hundreds of residents voiced their disapproval, with 150 people later staging a public protest and adding their signatures to a map showing where the cable was planned to go.
Pictured: Concerns were raised that digging up Longis Common would disturb Jewish graves dating back to World War II, when Alderney was the site of several labour and concentration camps.
An environmental report submitted to the States of Guernsey in December, of which the States of Alderney are a constituent part, revealed that, although an alternate route was possible, it had been, “discounted.”
In 2019, the FAB Link again came under scrutiny after allegations of impropriety linked to the project were made.
It followed the publication of an article in the Sunday Times which alleged "shady infrastructure deals" had taken place, all relating to the plans for using Alderney as a way of connecting Britain to the European electricity grid.
The Sunday Times claimed that Alderney would have made £70,000 a year from the deal, while some individuals pocketed millions.
Pictured: The Sunday Times article, which referenced the 'Adolph Island' documentary which had at the time recently aired and suggested the FAB link would disturb graves if allowed to go ahead.
Guernsey Law Enforcement confirmed to Express in July of that year that they were “reviewing” documents related to these claims.
In early 2020, it emerged that Former Chair of Alderney’s Policy and Finance Committee Robert McDowall was one of several people to be interviewed by Guernsey-based economic crime investigators over his involvement with ‘FAB Link’.
He served in the States of Alderney from 2013 to 2016 when negotiations over the planned subsea cable joining up France and the UK’s power grid via the third largest Channel Island were taking place.
Speaking following his interview, Mr McDowall dismissed the residents’ allegations as “nonsense”.
He said he was asked about consultancy work he had undertaken for ARE between 2010 and 2011 when he was part of a private equity brokering and investment firm called UbiCap.
"There was a one off package of work that we were asked to do looking at restructuring ARE to get wider investment," he explained. "I was not a States Member then. We ran the company down in 2013."
Mr McDowall said the police also interviewed him about the circumstances of how way leave was granted by the States for the FAB link.
He said officers had visited in order to 'close the file' on the allegations, which will be passed on to Guernsey Law Officers. In return, Mr McDowall handed the police a file of "Facebook bile" from FAB protestors, which had been directed at him.
Guernsey Police decided that the matter was not worth investigating further.
The following year, Alderney’s Chief Minister, then Bill Abel, sparked concerns about the project once more when he said that he was in the dark about its progress.
However, he later clarified that FAB Link progress reports had indeed been received – he just hadn't been aware of them at the time.
Pictured: Alderney's former Chief Minister Bill Abel.
These were described as “contractual requirements” which provided “updates on the work FAB Link is undertaking in the UK and the limited progress they have made with the French authorities.”
While it may not have been welcomed by residents, politicians or indeed anyone involved in the FAB Link project, the drama surrounding the intertidal connector was a gift for fans of acclaimed author Anthony Horowitz.
First sighting of the cover! What do you think? The book is set in Alderney. https://t.co/d4MuZeVCHu
— Anthony Horowitz (@AnthonyHorowitz) February 26, 2021
In 2021, the Alex Rider suspense writer announced a new work called ‘A Line to Kill’.
Released in August last year, A Line to Kill was the third in a series of crime mysteries featuring ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne, and his companion Mr Horowitz, who appears as a character in the book.
Both are invited to an exclusive literary festival in Alderney, alongside a group of characters and suspects, including a blind psychic and a TV chef.
Listen: Express spoke to Horowitz about his book last year.
Critically, it revolves around a controversial power line, called the ‘NAB’… Sound familiar?
Despite the FAB Link’s tumultuous journey up to that point, at the start of this year it was still progressing and reported being on course for completion later this decade.
Project sponsors and France's public electricity provider, RTE, have entered an agreement to review and reassess FAB this year. Their intention is to publish an updated timeframe and seek support to begin construction.
And the UK's energy regulator, Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), had judged the FAB Link still to be in the interests of current and future energy consumers in Britain.
Mr Abel, however, was sceptical about the benefits for Alderney.
"The FAB link people are convinced that it’s doing something that it isn’t, which creates havoc for us Alderney,” said Mr Abel.
“The cables would come through Alderney and theoretically pick up tidal power from the island and take it away.
“The only problem is, as I understand it, there is no technology that allows you to plug into DC cables, so you’ll need a double converter set and a transformer set in the middle of the island.”
Mr Abel also said the project still had a series of hoops to jump through before it would be allowed to start work in the island.
Despite having an option agreement signed to allow the FAB Link across the island, it is valid only if a permit is passed through the official land use process.
“They still have to go through a permitting process and a public review, which I suspect will be quite challenging for them,” he commented.
Things then went quiet – until this week.
On Wednesday 19 July 2022, a final decision was made on the interconnector’s route between France and the UK – and it was confirmed in a statement that it “crosses the English Channel / La Manche without the need to make landfall on the island of Alderney.”
Pictured: Alderney will not be involved in any future plans for the FAB Link.
“Since 2017 we have been working on the basis that we had the option to pursue either of two potential routes,” said the FAB Link Project Director, James Dickson via Fab Link’s website.
“One, which crosses Alderney, was designed to provide a route to market in the UK and France for tidal electricity generated in the island’s waters.
“The second route bypasses the island without making landfall there. Given ongoing uncertainties around the need for Alderney to export electricity, the promoters have decided to proceed with this second route.”
Press release-
— Alex Snowdon (@AlexSnowdon5) July 20, 2022
'The promoters of the FAB Project, have made a final decision on the interconnector’s route between France and the UK.
The selected route crosses the English Channel / La Manche without the need to make landfall on the island of Alderney.' ???? pic.twitter.com/SIP7LENwNA
Mr Dickson continued: “This gives us more certainty, as we need to work with fewer permissions, approvals and licences. It is also a more cost-effective route, and it will take less time to lay the cables.
“Following our joint agreement in February to review the project and provide updated information to regulators, this marks another step forward towards our aim of securing a final investment decision and starting construction in 2025.”
Alderney representative, Alex Snowdon, says it's welcome news.
"I'm pleased FAB has stated their preferred route and given Alderney clarification on the future plans for the cable."
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.