NKT begins installation of SuedLink power cable project in Germany
Power cable manufacturer NKT has started the installation of a 518 km high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power cable system for TenneT’s SuedLink project. The 525 kV cables will connect northern Germany’s renewable energy sources to the southern industrial regions, supporting Germany’s energy transition strategy, Energiewende.
Tim Meyerjürgens, TenneT’s chief operations officer, highlighted the milestone, stating that the pull-in of the first 37 km of the 700 km route demonstrates the project’s progress. The $11 billion SuedLink project is a key component of Germany’s strategy to shift to sustainable energy sources. NKT’s role includes supplying two sections of the power cable system and associated accessories, forming one of the dual systems ordered by TenneT and Transnet BW. The project also involves custom-engineered solutions to navigate the Elbe River and a salt mine.
The SuedLink system will feature a 2×2 GW capacity, making it one of the longest underground HVDC power links globally. It will distribute energy from onshore and offshore wind farms and hydro power from Norway, using the NordLink interconnector, which was completed in 2021 with a 525 kV HVDC system also supplied by NKT. The SuedLink corridor is scheduled for full operation by 2028.
Lukas Sidler, NKT’s executive vice-president and head of HV Solutions Cologne, emphasized the significance of the project, noting that the start of installation is a critical milestone in building Germany’s renewable energy infrastructure.
In October 2024, NKT also secured a framework agreement with Dutch distribution system operator Enexis Netbeheer to supply medium-voltage power cables.