HVDC
A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system (also called a power superhighway or an electrical superhighway) uses direct current (DC) for electric power transmission, in contrast with the more common alternating curren ...
submarine power cable
A submarine power cable is a transmission cable for carrying electric power below the surface of the water.Bicker Fen in
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...
, the United Kingdom and Revsing in southern
Jutland
Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...
, Denmark.
With a length of of which will pass through Danish, German, Dutch and British waters it would cross the long NorNed submarine power cable.
Specification
The interconnector will be capable of transmitting up to 1,400 MW at 525 kV i.e. an annual transmission capacity of 12.3 TWh.
It is similar in capacity and length to the UK–Norway North Sea Link.
Ownership
The project is a cooperation between British National Grid and Danish
Energinet
Energinet is the Danish national transmission system operator for electricity and natural gas. It is an independent public enterprise owned by the Danish state under the Ministry of Climate and Energy. Energinet has some 1150 employees, an ...
.
Project history
In November 2015 Viking Link was put on the EU "Projects of Common Interest" list, along with the COBRAcable between Jutland and the Netherlands, and the Krieger offshore wind turbine cable to Germany.
In January 2017 Viking Link announced a €1.3 billion tender for seven contracts that detail all aspects of constructing and later maintaining both the land and sea components of the link.
In March 2017 Fugro announced the completion of their contract to survey the seabed for the subsea section of the interconnector.
According to some experts including National Grid's head of strategy the UK's decision to leave the EU can negatively influence the effort to link the UK power grid with the continent and may put planned interconnectors such as Viking Link on hold. In reaction to the Brexit referendum Viking Link stated that the plans to build and operate the interconnector remain unchanged and that they consider the project unlikely to be influenced since it has a strong business case, while National Grid claims that leaving the internal energy market would jeopardize interconnector projects such as Viking Link.
In July 2019 Viking Link announced three contracts totaling €1.1 billion, one with
Siemens
Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad.
The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', '' ...
for the two onshore substations and two for the manufacture and laying of the undersea cables to be done by Prysmian Powerlink S.r.l. and
NKT
The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT—IKBU) is a global Buddhist new religious movement founded by Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" (IKBU) were ad ...
HV Cables AB. Construction work is scheduled to start mid-2020 and expected to be complete by 2023.
In December 2019, contracts were awarded for the UK onshore construction works.
In November 2019, it was announced that preparation work had started on the beach in Denmark.
In July 2020, Viking Link announced that work had started on the 475 mile interconnector.
Construction commenced with the building of an access road at Bicker Fen.
In February 2021, Balfour Beatty started drilling work for the project.
Economic impact
It will increase the UK's electricity interconnection level (transmission capacity relative to production capacity) from its comparatively low rate of 6%.COM/2015/082 final: "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target TextPDF page 2-5. ''
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...
'', 25 February 2015 ArchiveMirror /ref>
The Viking Link will give the UK access to the west Denmark bidding area (DK1) of Nord Pool Spot. An analysis in 2016 showed a DKK 5.6 billion overall benefit for the society using Viking Link, and a DKK 20 billion benefit for heat pumps in district heating. Combining the two yields a benefit of DKK 22.8 billion. By 2022 prices in Denmark are projected to rise by 15 DKK/MWh, and fall in England. The investment is estimated at 13.4 billion DKK.
A new 400kV supporting power line in Denmark is expected to increase internal transmission capacity and reduce overhead power lines from 324 km to 145 km.
Electricity sector in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has a National Grid that covers most of mainland Great Britain and several of the surrounding islands, as well as some connectivity to other countries. The electrical sector supplies power at 50 Hz AC, and ~240 volts i ...
Triton Knoll
Triton Knoll Wind Farm is an 857 MW round 2 offshore wind farm nearing completion off the coast of Lincolnshire, in the North Sea, England.
RWE Npower Renewables were awarded the lease to the development area in 2003. The offshore elements o ...
, an 857 MW offshore wind farm under construction, also with an onshore cable linking to Bicker Fen