NKT signs framework agreement for medium-voltage power cables supporting Dutch grid upgrade

Over the next eight years, Enexis Netbeheer intends to lay several thousand kilometres of underground power cables to expand the power grid in the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Brabant and Limburg to prepare for an increasing amount of renewable energy. The long-term framework agreement with NKT will secure supply of the necessary medium-voltage power cables. NKT will deliver approximately 600 km of power cables per year over the next eight years. The framework agreement includes an option to extend for an additional four years.

- We are delighted that NKT will be a supplier for our expansion operation over the coming years. We want to guarantee supply security of the requisite cables on par with increasing volumes, which is why we are scaling up the number of power cable suppliers. For the Enexis service area alone, we need a total power cable length that would take us around the world twice. We are really talking about a staggering amount of cable. We look forward to our future collaboration, says Rutger van der Leeuw, CEO at Enexis.

- We are proud to be a key supplier. We have a long history with Enexis and have supplied medium-voltage cables to many projects over the years. We look forward to strengthening our relationship even further with this framework agreement supporting their efforts to upgrade the Dutch electricity grid as well as connect more renewables projects, says Carlos Fernandez, EVP Applications, NKT.

The majority of the medium-voltages power cables will be produced at the factory in Asnaes, Denmark, which is being expanded in the coming years as part of NKT’s announced investments across three medium-voltage manufacturing sites.

In 2023, 48 percent of the Netherland’s electricity was generated from renewable sources such as solar, wind and water. The amount of electricity produced from wind energy in 2023 increased by 35 percent year-on-year, while solar energy increased by 24 percent. This growth is set to continue, and more distribution power cables are needed to connect these projects to the power grid.