TenneT has contracted eight cable suppliers to develop a new standard for a submarine cable system, to be used for offshore wind connections.

The participating suppliers are: Hellenic Cables, LS Cable & System, Nexans Norway, Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables, NKT HV Cables, Prysmian Powerlink, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Zhongtian Technology Submarine Cable.

The new cable system is required for the planned 2GW offshore grid connections in the Netherlands and in Germany, which set a new standard for connecting offshore wind farms.

A 525 kV HVDC extruded submarine cable system with a 2GW capacity is currently not implemented in any project worldwide.

The development programme should result in a certified cable system which TenneT can apply in the IJmuiden Ver, BalWin and LanWin projects as well as projects using the same power output and voltage.

“It is very positive to see that multiple international cable suppliers are participating in this programme. It shows that the sector is keen to innovate together to produce a new standard for submarine cable systems substantially reducing cost for society”

Marco Kuijpers, director Offshore Projects at TenneT.

To link 2GW offshore grid connections to the onshore grid system, a suitable certified cable system is required. This cable system will connect a 2GW platform and a land station. To transport the required 2GW power, a submarine cable system operating at a voltage level 525 kV DC using extruded insulation types is needed.

All the participating cable suppliers will develop and test the cable system within the time frame for the 2GW projects and TenneT will be in close contact with them during the entire process.

TenneT expects that the development of the 525 kV DC submarine cable system will result in a certified cable system in spring 2022, the company noted.

TenneT expects the bundled installation to achieve significant cost reductions. Besides reducing installation costs, it is also expected to reduce dredging costs because all cables can be put in a single trench. This approach also results in fewer platforms and land stations, which is not only interesting in financial terms but also ensures that TenneT causes lower emissions and has less spatial and environmental impact.