The NeuConnect project reached a new milestone in its construction after Siemens Energy completed the delivery of the 14 transformers destined for the converter stations of the future energy link between the United Kingdom and Germany.
The infrastructure, valued at £2.4 billion, will connect both countries via a 725-kilometer HVDC submarine cable system capable of transmitting 1.4 GW of electricity in both directions. This capacity will be sufficient to power up to 1.5 million homes and strengthen the integration of renewable energy in Europe.
Siemens Energy completes a complex logistics operation
The equipment delivered is part of the electrical conversion system that will allow the voltage to be adapted before injecting the energy into the national grids of the United Kingdom and Germany.
Each transformer measures approximately seven meters in length, five meters in height, and weighs over 200 tons. Siemens Energy manufactured the equipment in Nuremberg, and it was subsequently transported by barge down the Rhine River to Rotterdam.
From there, seven transformers were shipped to Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany, while the other seven arrived on Grain Island in Kent, UK. Finally, all were transported by road to NeuConnect’s converter stations.
Converter stations reach their maximum height
Likewise, the main structures of the converter stations have already reached their maximum height in both Germany and the United Kingdom.
The buildings, approximately 24 meters high and 70 meters wide, are now progressing with their cladding work and internal installation of electrical equipment and HVDC conversion systems.
These facilities will be essential to transform high-voltage direct current and allow the stable exchange of electricity between both energy markets.
Prysmian surpasses 300 kilometers of installed submarine cable
Meanwhile, the submarine cable laying program continues to advance with the support of the Prysmian Leonardo da Vinci, considered one of the world’s largest cable-laying vessels.
The contractor Prysmian has already installed more than 300 kilometers of submarine cable, according to the project; all the laying in British waters has been completed while operations continue in Dutch waters.
On the German side, the works to connect the North Sea coast with the Fedderwarden converter station are nearing completion.
NeuConnect seeks to strengthen European energy security
The NeuConnect interconnector is being promoted by Meridiam, Allianz, Kansai Electric Power, and TEPCO. The project aims to increase European energy resilience through a direct electricity connection between two of the continent’s largest electricity markets.
Arnaud Grévoz, CEO of NeuConnect, highlighted that the delivery of all the transformers represents another important achievement for the project and emphasized that the works continue to be aligned with the planned schedule.
The energy link is scheduled to become operational in 2028 and is expected to contribute to improving the exchange of renewable electricity between the United Kingdom and Germany.
Source and photo: Neuconnect