Viking Link

Viking Link is a 1,400 MW HVDC submarine power cable nearing completion between the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Viking Link
Map of Viking Link
Location
CountryDenmark, United Kingdom
Coordinates55°31′23″N 8°42′35″E
52°55′49″N 0°13′14″W
General directionEast–west
Passes throughNorth Sea
ToBicker Fen
Ownership information
Partners
Construction information
Construction started2019
Expected2023
Technical information
Typesubmarine cable
Type of currentHVDC
Total length765 km (475 mi)
Power rating1,400 MW
AC voltage400 kV (Jutland), 400 kV (Bicker Fen)
DC voltage± 525 kV

Route

The cable runs between Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire, the United Kingdom and Revsing in southern Jutland, Denmark.[1]

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With a length of 765 kilometres (475 miles) of which 650 km (400 mi) will pass through Danish, German, Dutch and British waters[1] it would cross the 580 km (360 mi) long NorNed submarine power cable.

Specification

The interconnector will be capable of transmitting up to 1,400 MW at 525 kV[2] i.e. 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 meter.[3]

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.[1]

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.[4]

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.[5]

In March 2017 Fugro announced the completion of their contract to survey the seabed for the subsea section of the interconnector.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

In July 2019 Viking Link announced three contracts totaling €1.1 billion, one with Siemens 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.[9]

In November 2019, it was announced that preparation work had started on the beach in Denmark.[10]

In December 2019, contracts were awarded for the UK onshore construction works.[11]

In July 2020, Viking Link announced that work had started on the 475 mile (765 km) interconnector.[12] Construction commenced with the building of an access road at Bicker Fen.[13]

In February 2021, Balfour Beatty started drilling work for the project.[14]

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.[15] The undersea section of the link was completed in July 2023.[16]

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.[17]

As of August 2023 commissioning is foreseen during November and December 2023 and, if successful, commercial operation will commence on January 1st 2024.[18]

Economic impact

It will increase the UK's electricity interconnection level (transmission capacity relative to production capacity) from its comparatively low rate of 6%.[19]

The Viking Link will give the UK access to the west Denmark bidding area (DK1) of Nord Pool Spot and vice versa. 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.[20]

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.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Viking Link Interconnector - 4C Offshore". 4coffshore.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  2. "Laying of world record power cable between the UK and Denmark now complete". viking-link.com (Press release). 2023-07-18. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  3. "Union list of projects of common interest" (PDF). European Commission. 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  4. "€1.3bn tender launched for Viking Link". 4coffshore.com. 2017-01-20. Retrieved 2017-01-21.
  5. Bergman, Amy (2017-03-09). "A vital link". Fugro (Press release). Archived from the original on 2017-04-18. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  6. Pell, Elza Holmstedt (2016-05-02). "UK energy links to Europe at risk from Brexit, analysts warn". EurActiv. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  7. "Viking Link and Brexit". viking-link.com. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
  8. "Cable and converter station suppliers are announced". viking-link.com (Press release). Retrieved 2019-08-10.
  9. "Preparation has started in Denmark". Viking Link (Press release). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  10. "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 (Press release). 17 December 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  11. "Viking Link: 475-mile underwater interconnector will give UK access to Denmark's clean energy". Sky News. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. "National Grid starts construction on Viking Link". Viking Link News Archive (Press release). National Grid / ENERGINET. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  13. "100 HDD Viking Link begins". Great Southern Press (Trenchless Australasia, Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology). 17 February 2021.
  14. "Viking Link team completes the onshore cable installation". prysmiangroup.com. Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  15. Laversuch, Chloe (19 July 2023). "Viking Link joins UK and Denmark power grids for first time". BBC News: Lincolnshire. BBC. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  16. "Final cable test complete for National Grid's Viking Link interconnector". viking-link.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  17. "Project updates". viking-link.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-08-07.
  18. COM/2015/082 final: "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target" Text PDF page 2-5. European Commission, 25 February 2015. Archive Mirror
  19. "Viking Link og andre tiltag for integration af vind" [Viking Link and other Initiatives for Wind Integration] (PDF). ea-energianalyse.dk (in Danish). 2016. p. 37+61+68.
  20. "Naboer inviteres til at komme med ønsker til 400 kV-linjeføring | Energinet" [Neighbors are invited to make wishes for 400 kV line laying | Energinet]. energinet.dk. 2019-09-10.
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