A major European transmission interconnection project is starting to take shape. Fingrid and Svenska Kraftnät have chosen the Vattenfall subsidiary Vattenfall Services Nordic Ab to build a 70 km section of the 500 kV, 300 km high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between Sweden and Finland. The 800 MW link – called Fenno-Skan 2 – will increase the transmission capacity between the two countries by 40 per cent and is due for completion by the end of 2011.
Under a EUR23 million contract, Vattenfall Services will construct a 70 km dc line to connect the submarine section of the link with the Finnböle substation in Sweden. The entire cable project, which is being implemented jointly by Fingrid of Finland and Sweden’s Svenska Kraftnät, will cost EUR300 million.
The submarine cable will account for 200 km of the new link, which will play an important part in wider plans to integrate the Nordic electricity markets. ABB is constructing the two HVDC converter stations for the project under a EUR110 million contract awarded in May 2008.
The submarine cable will be connected to the Finnish transmission system at the Rauma substation, which lies on the coast. When complete, the link will be operated by Fingrid and Svenska Kraftnät and will help to reduce price variations between countries operating in the Nordic grid system.
The cable will also reduce the risk of disturbances and supply interruptions, and should decrease transmission losses.
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