NordLink, the HVDC subsea interconnector between Norway and Germany, has been formally taken over by partner companies and is now in operation.
Partners Statnett, TenneT, and KfW formally took over NordLink on March 31, 2021. The takeover marks that NordLink is no longer a construction project but is in ordinary commercial operation.
The 387-mile HVDC interconnector runs between Sirdal municipality in Norway and Wilster in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany and has a capacity of up to 1400 MW. Construction began in 2016 and trial operations were completed in early 2021.
Hitachi ABB Power Grids was responsible for the HVDC technology in the converter stations in Norway and Germany while Nexans and NKT produced and delivered the cables in the project.
The total cost for NordLink is estimated at $2.03 billion to $2.15 billion, half of which is Statnett's share.
"The availability for the market during the trial period has been fully according to expectations," said Stein HÃ¥vard Auno, project director at Statnett. "NordLink will play an important role in facilitating a climate-friendly power system. We look forward to the opening event at the end of May."
NordLink is to play an important part in achieving climate goals and ensure an efficient exchange of power between Norway and Germany for the next 40 years.
