Three major contracts for the creation of the UK-Norway NSN interconnector have been awarded. The new link will run from Blyth in Northumberland on the north east coast of the UK to Kvilldal in Rogaland on the Norwegian side. HVDC converter stations on each side will connect the link to the onshore grids. Joining the power grids of the United Kingdom and Norway is aimed at increasing security of supply for both countries and supporting the integration of more renewable wind and hydroelectric power into their networks, allowing wind power from the UK and hydropower from Norway to be traded at times when wind energy supply and UK demand make it viable, allowing Norway to conserve water in its reservoirs and helping the UK to meet its renewables targets at times of high demand.
The orders were placed by Statnett, the state-owned network operator in Norway, and National Grid, the principal TSO for the UK and the northeast USA. The link will have a capacity of 1400 MW, through a cable that at 730 km will be the world's longest subsea power interconnection. It is expected to enter commercial operation in 2021.
ABB has won the $450 million contract to supply the substations at each end of the link. Nexans has been awarded the contracts for Lot 1 of the Link - the fjord submarine section and the overland section to the onshore connection on the Norwegian side. With two cable sub-systems, the contract covers the design, manufacture and installation of some 500 km of mass impregnated non-draining HVDC cables at depths down to 600 metres off the coast of Norway.
ABB will design, engineer, supply and commission two ±525 kV, 1400 MW converter stations, using its voltage source converter technology, HVDC Light.
Prysmian has won the turnkey contract to supply and install a total of around 950 km of submarine and land cables in two sections (over 470 km route length in total) of the overall NSN Link route length and at the interconnection voltage of ±525kV. The HVDC bipole will consist of single core cables with mass impregnated paper insulation at a rating of 1400 MW. All cables will be produced in the Arco Felice factory in Naples.
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