Roofing ceremony for NordLink converter building: The “green cable” between Germany and Norway is now becoming visible
The roofing ceremony for the NordLink converter building at the Wilster construction site (Schleswig-Holstein) is yet another major milestone on the German side of this German-Norwegian project. For the first time, the interconnector will directly connect the energy markets of Germany and Norway for the exchange of Norwegian hydropower and German wind energy. NordLink is being jointly realised by project partners TenneT, the KfW (represented by KfW IPEX-Bank) and the Norwegian transmission system operator Statnett.
The “green cable” between Germany and Norway is a beacon project in the Energiewende: Germany’s has ambitious goals regarding energy mix and reduction of carbon emissions. The proportion of renewables is expected to rise from its current level of approximately 33 per cent to 60 per cent by 2035, at least 80 per cent by 2050.
‘With NordLink the energy transition becomes European. This is must: We can only reach the climate targets, if we think beyond our own borders,’ said Robert Habeck, Deputy Minister-President of Schleswig-Holstein and Minister of Energy, Agriculture, the Environment, Nature and Digitisation. ‘The interconnector will increase the security of supply in both countries, and will counter congestions in the German transmission grid.’
NordLink is one of the longest systems for high voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) being developed in the world. The direct current system features a total length of 623 kilometres and is divided into several sections. The laying of the first 134 kilometres of subsea cable has been completed as of early August, starting from Vollesfjord in south Norway, through to the border of Danish territorial waters.
‘During the same time, ducts for the cable under the land protection dike near Büsum (Schleswig-Holstein) were moved into place. Starting in 2018, another 228 kilometres will be routed from the Danish North Sea area to the border of German territorial waters. From Summer 2018, another 154 cable kilometres will subsequently be added from the coast near Büsum, beginning in the mudflats. On the high seas, cable ends from the individual sections are being combined.
A 54-kilometre underground cable from the Büsum landing point to the Wilster converter station will be added next year to the 516-kilometre-long subsea cable on the German side. In Norway, construction is underway on the 53-kilometre-long overhead line from the Vollesfjord landing point through to Tonstad. The converter buildings in Tonstad are largely complete.
In the converter stations, the transmitted DC is subsequently converted into AC and connected to the Norwegian or German high-voltage grid. NordLink has a capacity of 1,400 megawatts (MW). This places its capacity considerably above that of a large conventional power station.
About KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH
Within the KfW Group, KfW IPEX-Bank is responsible for international project and export finance. Its function of providing financing to boost the German and European economy is derived from the legal mandate assigned to KfW. It offers medium- and long-term financing to support key export industries, to develop economic and social infrastructure and to fund environmental and climate protection projects. KfW IPEX-Bank operates as a legally independent group subsidiary and plays a major role in fulfilling KfW’s promotional mission. It is represented in the most important economic and financial centres across the globe.
Source: KfW IPEX
