NKT starts installation of the German power cable corridor SuedLink for TenneT

Drum after cable drum will now be installed for the German power cable corridor, SuedLink. On behalf of transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT, NKT has begun installing the 518 km of 525 kV high-voltage (direct current) power cables for section 3.1. These will enable power transmission of renewable energy generated in the northern parts of Germany to industrial areas in the South. SuedLink is one of the key corridor projects central to realizing the ‘Energiewende’, Germany’s long-term strategy for transitioning to renewable energy.

- The start of the installation is a major milestone in the ambitious SuedLink power cable project, which will play a central role in building the energy infrastructure needed for Germany’s transition to renewable energy. We are proud to continue the execution of TenneT’s order for this historic project, leveraging our leading execution capabilities, says Lukas Sidler, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions in Cologne in NKT.

The power cables and accessories to be delivered by NKT for SuedLink comprise two sections, which together form one of the two full power cable systems. These sections are ordered by the TSOs TenneT (3.1) and Transnet BW (3.2). Additionally, the order includes a specially engineered solution for the power cable to cross the Elbe River and a salt mine. With a capacity of 2x2 GW, the cable systems for SuedLink will be among the longest underground HVDC power cable links in the world.

- With the cable pull-in, SuedLink is becoming a reality. Today’s milestone marks significant progress towards ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply for Germany. The pull-in of the first 37 kilometers of the 700-kilometer route makes it clear: SuedLink is under construction and will now become visible along the cable route, says Tim Meyerjürgens, Chief Operations Officer in TenneT.

The SuedLink power cable link starts in northern Germany where it will be connected to power from on- and offshore wind farms and to the NordLink interconnector, which brings hydro power from Norway to Germany via a 525 kV HVDC power cable system provided by NKT in a turnkey project in 2021.

SuedLink is expected to be operational by 2028.