The UK took a big step towards getting almost all its imported electricity from zero-carbon sources by the end of the decade, as work began on the world’s longest power interconnector linking Britain and Denmark.

Construction has started on the £1.8bn ($2.26m) Viking Link, a 765km, 1.4GW high-voltage direct-current line which will run under the North Sea between eastern England and Revsing in southern Jutland, Denmark, said the UK’s network operator National Grid.