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National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet have awarded three contracts worth a combined €1.1 billion (£990 million) to supply the cables and converter station for the subsea Viking Link.
The 472-mile long cable will be the longest in the world when it is completed in 2023. It will enable the sharing of renewable energy between the UK and Denmark.
This morning (23 July) the two operators announced that Prysmian Powerlink S.r.l. would deliver four of the five cable lots and NKT HV Cables AB would deliver the onshore cable lot in Denmark.
Meanwhile Siemens will be supplying and installing equipment for two converter station sites in Lincolnshire and Revsing, Denmark.
Jon Butterworth, chief operating officer for National Grid Ventures, said: “We’re thrilled to be kicking off such an important project for the UK.
“Viking Link will play a vital role in helping to decarbonise the UK’s power supply on our journey to a net zero carbon energy system. Interconnectors like Viking Link enable us to use every spare electron, meaning consumers get access to cleaner, cheaper and more secure electricity.”
Energinet chief technology officer Torben Glar Nielsen said: “Viking Link offers significant socio-economic welfare benefit for Denmark as well as bringing great benefits to UK consumers.
“At the same time, it will play a key role in the transition to green energy. This connection offers a broader market for renewable energy and will attract the development off more green power plants, such as offshore wind farms.”
Construction is due to begin next summer and once completed, the Viking Link will be National Grid’s sixth interconnector to mainland Europe.
The company already has three operational interconnectors to France (IFA), the Netherlands (BritNed) and Belgium (Nemo Link).
Two further projects are under construction to France (IFA2, operational 2020) and Norway (North Sea Link, operational 2021).
Utility Week asked National Grid about the prospect of a no deal Brexit affecting the interconnector projects.
A spokesperson said: “We’ve worked hard to make sure we’re ready. That includes working closely with governments at either end of the cable, and our partners – which for Viking Link is the Danish system operator Energinet.
“The interconnectors will continue to operate, even in a no deal outcome.”
Following the completion of Viking Link, National Grid will have an interconnector capacity of 7.8 gigawatts which is enough to power 8 million homes.
By 2030 90 per cent of electricity imported via National Grid’s interconnectors will be from zero carbon sources, the company says.
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