New evergreen deal with Norway lights way to clean energy

EVERY year in early December, Norway presents a 90ft Christmas tree to Britain for display in Trafalgar Square to thank us for helping them in the Second World War.

- Tim Newark

But this year, when it is lit tomorrow, Norway may also be supplying the electricity for the lights on the tree – and across the UK – thanks to a revolutionary power cable running between our two countries.

As we face a potentially bleak winter, with rocketing fuel bills and a shortage of natural gas, Norway is coming to our rescue just as we did for them 80 years ago during the Nazi occupation.

The first Christmas tree was cut down in 1942 during a commando raid on the Norwegian island of Hisøy and presented to Norwegian King Haakon VII, who was living in exile in Windsor. It became an annual gift from 1947 onwards, donated by the citizens of Oslo.

Now it’s a cable beneath the North Sea that is linking our two nations during a time of energy crisis.

IT’S a great example of international renewable energy cooperation that is both common sense and good news for us all.

The 450-mile submarine electricity cable is the longest in the world, connecting Blyth in Northumberland to the Norwegian village of Kvilldal.

At full capacity, it will import enough hydropower from mountain dams to heat 1.4 million homes in the UK.