In October 2018, Nexans has successfully completed the installation of the first four cables of NordLink, the power connection between Norway and Germany.
The NordLink project is an important step towards the development of climate-friendly energy market of the future. A collaboration between Statnett, TenneT and the German promotional bank KfW, the 1400 MW interconnector will connect the Norwegian and German electricity markets to allow the two countries to exchange renewable energy. For instance, it will be possible to export surplus wind and solar power produced in Germany to Norway. At the same time, Norway will be able to export its surplus hydroelectric power to Germany.
In the framework of the 500-million-euro contract awarded to the Group in 2015, Nexans is designing, manufacturing and installing six 525 kV mass-impregnated (MI) high voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnector cables with a total length of around 700 km.
While a part of these cables is still being manufactured in Nexans Norway plant in Halden, Nexans has already manufactured and installed two thirds of the interconnection length. The cables are installed with the advanced cable-laying vessel C/S Nexans Skagerrak and trenched using the Nexans Capjet system.
The last two cables are currently being manufactured in Halden and will be installed according to the planning in 2019.
The NordLink interconnector project adds to the long and proven track record that Nexans has with submarine HV cable interconnectors. Other projects recently completed by Nexans include the 100 km cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) 230kV Malta-Sicily interconnector and the Montenegro-Italy 393 km 500kV MI interconnector. In addition to those, Nexans has also been chosen to manufacture 500 km 525kV MI HVDC cables for the North Sea Link interconnector between Norway and the UK.