The Viking Link-cable will stretch from Vejen in Southern Jutland to approximately 170 km north of London in England (UK), of which the predominant part of the cable will lie on the bottom of the North Sea. The transfer capacity of the connection will be 1,400 MW corresponding to almost one third of the average Danish electricity consumption.
”Strong power-connections to other countries are decisive for a small nation like Denmark. We will have the opportunity to sell our power on a bigger market, when we have a surplus of sustainable energy. At the same time we will have a larger supply of power to Denmark, when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. Strong power connections to our neighbours contribute thus to both securing cheap and reliable power to the consumer and to keep the value of wind energy high. That will benefit all Danes and companies in Denmark,” says the Minister for Energy-, Utilities- and Climate Lars Chr. Lilleholt (V).
Biggest investment ever
In connection with the Viking Link there will be an expansion of the high voltage grid between Holstebro and the Danish-German border in two separate projects. Collectively Denmark will invest around 11 billion DKK in establishing the three big completed works, which in total will be the single biggest Danish investment in power infrastructure so far.
Important for the green transistion
The investment is a cornerstone of Danish energy policy and of the government’s upcoming proposal on a new energy agreement. With increasing quantities of sustainable energy production both at home and in the surrounding countries, increasing Denmark’s international power links, means that power can be produced where nature and climate are favourable for wind-, water- and sun energy, and can easily be transported to where it is needed.
”Time has moved beyond seeing energy- and climate policy as a strictly national subject. We no longer live on isolated “energy islands”. Our energy systems and energy markets are already connected, and it is important that they are expanded, so as to achieve an optimal exploitation of energy from wind turbines and solar panels in the future”, says Lars Chr. Lilleholt.
Denmark will increase its export in net terms because of the new connection to the UK. At the same time, Denmark will also increase its import through the new connection to Germany.
”The government will ensure that the upcoming energy proposal collectively speaking, and including Viking Link, will not make it more expensive to be a citizen in Denmark nor to run a business in our country. We have today one of the lowest market prices for electricity in Europe, one of the highest security of supply standards and one of the highest shares of sustainable energy in our power system. Amongst other reasons, this is because of our strong connections to other countries, which makes power cheaper for the consumer than if Denmark only supplied itself”, says Lars Chr. Lilleholt.
It is Energinet that formally is responsible for the Danish investment in the electritcity grid.
Contact
Rasmus Bjørn, rasbj@efkm.dk , 41729077
Chris Hammeken, chh@efkm.dk, 41277294