Norway approves subsea cable interconnectors

Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy has granted Statnett licences to construct interconnectors to Germany and the UK.

The two projects are the following:

• NordLink, which is scheduled for completion within 2018. This interconnector will be developed and owned 50% by Statnett and 50% by a constellation consisting of the grid company TenneT and the German investment bank KfW. The subsea cable will have a capacity of 1400 MW and will run between Tonstad in Norway and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.

• NSN, which is scheduled for completion within 2020. This interconnector will be developed and owned 50% by Statnett and 50% by the British energy company National Grid. The subsea cable will have a capacity of 1400 MW and will run between Kvilldal in Norway and Blyth in the UK.

The announced decision means that both projects have been licenced for facilitation of power exchange with Germany and the UK. In addition, NordLink has been granted planning approval for its work on the Norwegian side. NSN already has a planning approval.

Executive Vice President Håkon Borgen in Statnett commented:

The two new interconnectors will be key parts of the next generation power system and will contribute to greater security of supply and more value creation in Norway. They will also pave the way for increased utilisation of renewable energy, and thereby for reaching the climate targets in Norway and our partner countries.

We will proceed with the planning of these projects. Negotiations are being conducted with suppliers, and work is being done to clarify issues concerning regulations and remaining licences on the German and UK sides. We are working to have this in place in time for us to make our investment decision according to plan," says Håkon Borgen.