Viking Link Explained

Viking Link
Country:Denmark, United Kingdom
Coordinates:
52.9303°N -0.2206°W
Direction:East–west
Through:North Sea
Finish:Bicker Fen
Construction:2019
Est:29 December 2023
Type:submarine cable
Current Type:HVDC
Length Km:765
Capacity:800 MW (1,400 MW by 2025)
Ac Voltage:400 kV (Jutland), 400 kV (Bicker Fen)
Dc Voltage:± 525 kV

Viking Link is a 1,400 MW HVDC submarine power cable between the United Kingdom and Denmark, which was completed in 2023., it is the longest land and subsea HVDC interconnector in the world.[1] The project is a cooperation between British National Grid and Danish Energinet.

Route

The cable runs between Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire, UK, and Revsing in southern Jutland, Denmark.[2]

The cable has a total length of 765km (475miles), of which 650km (400miles) is undersea, passing through Danish, German, Dutch and British waters.[2] It crosses the 580km (360miles) long NorNed submarine power cable.

Specification

The interconnector is capable of transmitting up to 1,400 MW at 525 kV,[3] resulting in an annual transmission capacity of 12.3 TWh. The actual cable is made of copper, steel, paper and plastic and weighs about 40 kg per metre.[4] It is similar in capacity and length to the UK–Norway North Sea Link.

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.[5]

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.[6]

In March 2017 Fugro announced the completion of their contract to survey the seabed for the subsea section of the interconnector.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

In July 2019 Viking Link announced three contracts totaling €1.1 billion, one with Siemens Energy 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 HV Cables AB. Construction work was scheduled to start mid-2020 and expected to be complete by end 2023.[10]

In November 2019, it was announced that preparation work had started on the beach in Denmark.[11]

In December 2019, contracts were awarded for the UK onshore construction works.[12]

In July 2020, Viking Link announced that work had started on the 475 mile (765 km) interconnector.[13] Construction commenced with the building of an access road at Bicker Fen.[14]

In February 2021, Balfour Beatty started drilling work for the project.[15]

Land cables and submarine cables were installed between 2020 and 2023.

In 2023 the cable laying contractor Prysmian announced that the land cables and 870 km of the 1250 km dual subsea cable had been laid with the remaining 380 km subsea cable to be laid between April and July 2023.[16] The undersea section of the link was completed in July 2023.[17]

In August 2023 the cable including its terminations, land and subsea joints completed final electric testing at 735 kV, i.e. 40% above its nominal operating voltage.[18]

A new 400kV supporting power line in Denmark to increase internal transmission capacity (and reduce overhead power lines from 324 km to 145 km)[19] was delayed until late 2025.[20]

Commissioning of the subsea cable started during November and December 2023 and commercial operation commenced on 29 December 2023.[21] However, capacity was limited to 800 MW until the associated grid is completed in Denmark around 2025.[22] [20] From 14 January 2024 the Danish transmission system operator Energinet implemented changes that allow Viking Link to transmit at its full capacity under certain circumstances. As such, from 15 to 19 January where the Dutch-Danish COBRAcable was undergoing maintenance, Viking Link was able to transmit at its full capacity.[23] In February 2024 the cable suffered an outage after a minor fire in a switching station in Revsing, Denmark.[24]

Economic impact

The cable will increase the UK's electricity interconnection level (transmission capacity relative to production capacity) from its comparatively low rate of 6% in 2014.[25]

The Viking Link connects the UK 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 were projected to rise by 15 DKK/MWh, and fall in England. The investment was estimated at 13.4 billion DKK.[26]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: National Grid’s Viking Link interconnector recognised by GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ National Grid Group . 2024-07-26 . www.nationalgrid.com.
  2. Web site: Viking Link Interconnector . viking-link.com . 2016-02-02.
  3. Web site: Viking Link Interconnector - 4C Offshore . 4coffshore.com . 2016-02-02.
  4. Laying of world record power cable between the UK and Denmark now complete . viking-link.com . 2023-07-18 . 2023-08-07.
  5. Web site: Union list of projects of common interest . . 2015-11-18 . 2016-04-25.
  6. News: €1.3bn tender launched for Viking Link . 4coffshore.com . 2017-01-20 . 2017-01-21.
  7. A vital link . . Amy . Bergman . 2017-03-09 . 2017-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170418101737/https://www.fugro.com/media-centre/fugro-world/article/a-vital-link . 2017-04-18 . dead.
  8. News: UK energy links to Europe at risk from Brexit, analysts warn . . Elza Holmstedt . Pell . 2016-05-02 . 2017-01-14.
  9. Web site: Viking Link and Brexit . viking-link.com . 2017-01-14.
  10. Cable and converter station suppliers are announced . viking-link.com . 2019-08-10.
  11. Preparation has started in Denmark . Viking Link . 5 December 2019.
  12. National Grid and Energinet have chosen Balfour Beatty to become the civil works supplier for the UK's first ever subsea electricity interconnector to Denmark. . Viking Link . 17 December 2019 . 20 April 2020.
  13. News: Viking Link: 475-mile underwater interconnector will give UK access to Denmark's clean energy. Sky News. 13 July 2020. 13 July 2020.
  14. National Grid starts construction on Viking Link . Viking Link News Archive . National Grid / ENERGINET . 23 July 2020.
  15. Web site: 100 HDD Viking Link begins. 17 February 2021 . Great Southern Press (Trenchless Australasia, Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology).
  16. Web site: Viking Link team completes the onshore cable installation . . 2023-05-04.
  17. News: Viking Link joins UK and Denmark power grids for first time . Chloe . Laversuch . BBC News: Lincolnshire . BBC . 2023-08-02 . 19 July 2023.
  18. Final cable test complete for National Grid's Viking Link interconnector . viking-link.com . 2023-09-20.
  19. Web site: Naboer inviteres til at komme med ønsker til 400 kV-linjeføring . Neighbors are invited to make wishes for 400 kV line laying . . da . 2019-09-10.
  20. Web site: Så kom skovlen endelig i jorden til 172 km lang Vestkystforbindelse . energinet.dk . da . 7 November 2023.
  21. Web site: NGVLL Message Detail . BM Reports . 2023-12-04.
  22. Web site: Viking Link åbner med kapacitet på 800 MW . energinet.dk . 15 December 2023. da.
  23. Web site: Nye tiltag sikrer højere kapacitet på Viking Link . energinet.dk . 2024-01-11 . 2024-01-18 . da.
  24. News: Viking Link (1,4 GW) ute av drift etter brann . montelnews.com . Gert Ove . Mollestad . 2024-02-05 . 2024-02-08 . no . Viking Link (1.4 GW) non-operational after fire.
  25. COM/2015/082 final: "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target" Text PDF page 2-5. European Commission, 25 February 2015. Archive Mirror
  26. Web site: Viking Link og andre tiltag for integration af vind . 37+61+68 . ea-energianalyse.dk . 2016 . da . Viking Link and other Initiatives for Wind Integration . https://web.archive.org/web/20200307030849/http://www.ea-energianalyse.dk/reports/1550_Integration_vindkraft_viking_link_og_andre_tiltag.pdf . 2020-03-07 . dead.