Nexans has started the installation of subsea power cables for NordLink, a 700km long, interconnector project that connects European countries of Norway and Germany.
The interconnector project has a capacity to transmit over 1.4GW of power, with an operational voltage of 500kV.
NordLink project will facilitate the exchange of renewable energy being generated across Norway and Germany. Germany’s excess wind and solar energy will be transferred to Norway and Norway’s hydropower energy will be transferred to Germany using this link.
The project’s developers include TenneT, Statnett and German Bank KfW.
The work is now progressing in Vollesfjorden, Norway, where Nexans has installed and pulled onshore the power cable from its laying vessel C/S Nexans Skagerrak, a vessel, which is claimed to be the largest purpose-built vessel of its kind.
The cable will be protected on the seabed by trenching with dual 1MW Nexans Capjet systems onboard the offshore construction vessel Polar King.
As the work progresses, the company plans to cover more than 120km of cable laying work in the next 10 days, proceeding from Norway towards the Danish sector in the North Sea.
The project is expected to be completed in 2019.
Nexans Site Manager Danne Petterson said: “We have reached an important milestone in the project. Thanks to the experience of all the various disciplines at Nexans and the good cooperation with subcontractors and the client, everything has gone according to plan.”
Nexans received the contract for the manufacture and laying of the subsea power cables contract, back in February, 2015.
Recently, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide €350m to Norwegian operator Statnett, as a loan.
Image: Nexans start laying subsea power cables for NordLink. Photo: Courtesy of Nexans.