Danish transmission operator, Energinet, has awarded cable manufacturer NKT a contract worth approximately €650 million to deliver the 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable systems for the Danish connection to Bornholm Energy Island.
The scope of the agreement includes the design, production, and installation of around 200 kilometres of offshore cable and 16.8 kilometres of onshore cable, creating a critical link between Bornholm and Zealand.
Bornholm Energy Island, located in the Baltic Sea, is being developed as a hub to collect up to 3.8 GW of offshore wind power from future wind farms. Electricity from the facility will be transmitted to both Denmark and Germany through two HVDC interconnector systems. The project is considered one of Europe’s most significant renewable energy initiatives, aimed at strengthening regional energy security and facilitating cross-border power exchange.
NKT will manufacture the cables at its renewable-powered high-voltage plant in Karlskrona, Sweden, close to the Baltic Sea project site, limiting emissions linked to transportation. Offshore installation will be supported by the company’s new cable-laying vessel, NKT Eleonora, which is expected to enter service in 2027.
The award builds on an earlier contract NKT secured in 2023 under a framework agreement with German grid operator 50Hertz for the German side of the interconnector.
NKT president and CEO Claes Westerlind welcomed the new agreement, stating: “Bornholm Energy Island is a key project for Europe to enhance energy security and the exchange of renewable energy. With this award, we reaffirm our strong commitment to building the sustainable and secure energy infrastructure Europe needs.”
