Dutch transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT is moving ahead with laying the subsea section of the 1,400 MW NordLink interconnector project in the German part of the North Sea. The €1.5-2bn projects comprises a bipolar high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea interconnector, which will spread across 623 km between Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) and Tonstad (Norway). TenneT has nearly completed the laying of the submarine portion (516 km) and has started to lay the 54 km underground section between the Büsumer dike and the Wilster converter plant in Schleswig-Holstein.
The HVDC interconnection line is developed by the Norwegian TSO Statnett and Germany's DC Nordseekabel, each of them holding 50% interest. Once commissioned in 2020, the 525 kV line will enable Germany to import hydropower surplus from Norway, while Norway would be supplied with German wind and solar surplus.