23.01.2017
TSC member 50Hertz, one of the four German transmission system operators (TSOs), and the Swedish TSO Svenska kraftnät have signed a cooperation agreement on the binational DC interconnector Hansa PowerBridge on 19 January 2017 in Berlin, Germany. The contract between the two TSOs lays down substantial details regarding the planning and construction of the interconnector, such as the time schedule, the technical design or the cost allocation.
With a capacity of 700MW and a total length of 300km, Hansa PowerBridge will connect the electrical substation in Güstrow in the northeast German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with its counterpart in Hurva in the southernmost Swedish province of Scania. Naturally, the largest section of the interconnector will be realised as a submarine cable through the Baltic Sea. The estimated overall investment volume of the project amounts to more than €600m. Currently, 50Hertz and Svenska kraftnät are both preparing the respective official approval procedures. The call for tenders is expected for 2022 and the commissioning of the Hansa PowerBridge for 2025/26.
The energy production in the northeast of Germany is characterised by its high share of wind and solar power, while hydropower plays a major role in Scandinavia, hence also providing large amounts of storage volume. The Hansa PowerBridge links these two significant energy regions and enables the TSOs to balance energy dropouts in their national transmission systems and to avoid the cost-intensive throttling of generation plants. Rainer Baake, State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, comments on the signing of the agreement: “The power line improves the integration of renewable energies into the transmission grid and thus contributes to climate-friendly and cost-efficient electricity generation.” Boris Schucht, Chief Executive Officer at 50Hertz, complements that in combination with the inner-German SuedOstlink power line project, the Hansa Power Bridge has the potential to serve as “a well adjustable long-distance link from Scandinavia across the northeast of Germany to the south”.
> See 50Hertz press release (html)
Picture: Frank Wölffing / 50Hertz / Svenska kraftnät
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