The Dutch transmission system operator TenneT and its Danish counterpart Energinet.dk have approved the development of COBRAcable, a new 300-km-long subsea interconnector that will connect the Dutch and Danish power grids.
The new High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) cable will have a transmission capacity of approximately 700 MW, and will run from Eemshaven in the Netherlands to Endrup in Denmark.
A key role of the COBRAcable project, which is being developed jointly by the two transmission system operators, is to allow for the integration of more renewable wind energy into the Dutch electricity system.
"The COBRAcable is good news for the European electricity market. The connection will improve competition in north-western Europe and society will benefit from it. It will also improve security of supply in both Denmark and the Netherlands, to the benefit of consumers and industry," said Peder Østermark Andreasen, CEO of Energinet.dk.
"The cable will make a significant contribution to the realization of a sustainable international energy landscape; an important goal of the European Union and TenneT," added TenneT CEO Mel Kroon.
The project is being supported with an €86.5 million subsidy under the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR).
TenneT and Energinet.dk say they will now work on securing the required permits and putting the project out to tender. Contracts are expected to be awarded in late 2015, with the start of construction work in 2016, and completion of the cable in early 2019.
Photo: COBRAcable will run from Eemshaven in the Netherlands to Endrup in Denmark.
