TenneT turns to industry for high-spec grid connection cables

Two 2-GW offshore grid connections will be built in the IJmuiden Ver area along with three additional 2-GW grid connections in the LanWin and Balwin area. Together they increase TenneT’s offshore grid connection capacity in Germany to more than 17 GW by 2030.

Currently, there are no 2-GW grid connections, so the company wants cable companies to develop innovative solutions for ‘next level’ submarine high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable systems operating at 525 kV.

It has awarded contract to Hellenic Cables (Greece); LS Cable & System Ltd (Korea); Nexans Norway (Norway); Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co Limited (China); NKT HV Cables (Sweden); Prysmian Powerlink (Italy); Sumitomo Electric Industries (Japan); and Zhongtian Technology Submarine Cable Co Limited (China).

All of the participating cable suppliers will develop and test cable systems within the timeframe for the 2-GW projects.

TenneT expects development of the 525-kV HVDC submarine cable system will result in a certified cable system by Q2 2022.

The company expects the new, more capable cables will reduce manufacturing and installation costs for the cable system and the entire grid concept using it, including HVDC offshore platforms and the HVDC land stations.

“TenneT expects the bundled installation to achieve significant cost reductions. Apart from reducing installation costs, it will also reduce dredging costs because all of the cables can be put in a single trench,” the company said. “This approach will result in fewer platforms and land stations, which is not only interesting in financial terms but will also reduce emissions and have less spatial and environmental impact.”