Great Belt power link
{{Infobox power transmission line
| name = Great Belt power link
Storebælt HVDC
| photo =
| caption =
| map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=6}}
| map_caption = Location of Great Belt power link
Storebælt HVDC
| country = Denmark
| state =
| coordinates =
| lat =
| long =
| direction = West–East
| start = Fraugde, Funen
| through = Great Belt
| finish = Herslev, Zealand
| par =
| owner = Energinet.dk
| partners =
| operator =
| cable_manufacturer =
| cable_installer = JD-Contractor A/S
| cable_layer = C/B Henry P. Lading
| substation_manufacturer= Siemens
| substation_installer=
| contractors =
| construction = 2009
| expected =
| est = 2010
| decom =
| type = Submarine power cable
| current_type = LCC HVDC
| length_km = 58
| capacity = 600 MW
| AC_voltage =
| DC_voltage = 400 kV
| poles_no =
| circuits_no =
}}
The Great Belt power link (Storebælt HVDC), also known as the Great Belt electricity link, is a high-voltage direct-current interconnection across the Great Belt between Funen and Zealand connecting two power transmission systems in Denmark.
Background
Denmark has two separated transmission systems, of which the eastern one is synchronous with Nordic (former NORDEL) and the western one with the synchronous grid of Continental Europe. The phases of the two systems are not synchronized, and can therefore only be connected via direct current.
There had been several discussions and feasibility studies about possible interconnection between these systems, beginning in 1921. The connection was turned down in 1966, 1971 and 1984.{{cite book |last1=Nielsen |first1=Flemming G. |title=Danmarks Energifortider - hovedbegivenheder på energiområdet |url=https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/EnergiKlimapolitik/danmarks_energifortider_samlet.pdf |publisher=Danish Energy Agency, Energistyrelsen |page=2 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210901092335/https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/EnergiKlimapolitik/danmarks_energifortider_samlet.pdf |archive-date=1 September 2021 |date=April 2016 |url-status=live |isbn=978-87-93180-18-5}} The Danish system had changed due to closure of older plants and expansion of renewable energy. The purpose of the connection is to improve utilisation of the power system, share power reserves, obtain synergies in a common regulating power market and better market performance.{{cite web |title=Storebæltsforbindelsen |url=http://www.dkef.dk/default.asp?Action=Details&Item=530 |website=www.dkef.dk |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210125212037/http://www.dkef.dk/default.asp?Action=Details&Item=530 |archive-date=25 January 2021 |date=2009-08-26 |url-status=live}} The decision to build the Storebælt HVDC was made in December 2005 and it is based on the feasibility study carried out in 2005.{{cite web
| url = http://www.cigrescb4norway.com/Documents/Papers/Session%203/303%20The%20Storeb%C3%A6lt%20HVDC%20Project%20in%20Denmark.pdf
| title = Storebaelt HVDC Project. Abstract
| author = Jens Peter Kjærgaard
| publisher = International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRÉ)
| accessdate = 2009-02-08
}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Construction
The submarine power cable across the Great Belt was laid in July 2009 by a submarine contractor [http://jdcon.com/ JD-Contractor A/S] using the cable-laying barge C/B Henry P. Lading.{{cite press release
| url = http://www.jydskdyk.dk/HTML%20uk/News/2009/Great%20belt.htm
| title = Connecting East and West Denmark for the first time ever
| publisher = JD-Contractor A/S
| date = July 2009
| accessdate = 2009-12-29
}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The interconnection was commissioned in July 2010 and started commercial operations in August 2010 at a cost of DKK 1.29 billion. It was inaugurated on 7 September 2010.{{cite press release
| url = http://www.energinet.dk/EN/ANLAEG-OG-PROJEKTER/Nyheder/Sider/Dronningen-satte-stikket-i-Den-elektriske-Storeb%C3%A6ltsforbindelse.aspx
| title = The Queen plugged in the Great Belt Power Link
| publisher = Energinet.dk
| date = 2010-09-14
| accessdate = 2010-10-28
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101106114530/http://www.energinet.dk/EN/ANLAEG-OG-PROJEKTER/Nyheder/Sider/Dronningen-satte-stikket-i-Den-elektriske-Storeb%C3%A6ltsforbindelse.aspx
| archive-date = 2010-11-06
| url-status = dead
}}
Economy
In the first months of operation, the connection has transferred power from West to East near full capacity.{{cite web |url=http://www.nordpoolspot.com/upload/reports/exchange_JY,SJ_hourly_This%20year.xls |title=2010 traffic data for Storebælt power (HTML disguised as spreadsheet) |work=Nord Pool Spot |access-date=13 December 2010}}
Energinet.dk estimates that the connection will save consumers in East Denmark between 150 and 200 million kroner per year, while West Denmark will retain normal prices due to the strong connections with Germany and Norway.{{cite web |author=Frandsen, Morten |url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Penge/2010/10/15/110252.htm |title=East Denmark got cheaper power |work=DR |date=18 October 2010 |access-date=13 December 2010}}
The link has reduced the price variability in both east and west Denmark, and reduced the price of fossil fuel in east Denmark. The cable's effect on price change in west Denmark is disputed due to the strong connections with Germany and Norway.{{cite web |author=Kristensen, Søren Dupont |url=http://energinet.dk/DA/El/Nyheder/Sider/TyskeelprisersmitterafiVestdanmark.aspx |title=German prices rub off in West Denmark |work=Energinet.dk |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=13 December 2010}}
A researcher from Aalborg University claims that the reduced price variability has reduced the incentive for smart grids, and proposes that the bottleneck income be diverted from investments in physical grid to smart grid.{{cite web |author=Blarke, Morten Boje |url=http://people.plan.aau.dk/~blarke/communication/notat-transnationalcabling-131110.pdf |title=Consequences of Great Belt Power Link |language=Danish}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719120519/http://people.plan.aau.dk/~blarke/communication/notat-transnationalcabling-131110.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }} {{cite web |url=http://people.plan.aau.dk/~blarke/communication/integrationsstrategi-011110.pdf |title=Graphs |pages=13–14 |work=Aalborg University |date=19 November 2010 |access-date=13 December 2010}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719120537/http://people.plan.aau.dk/~blarke/communication/integrationsstrategi-011110.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }}
In 2012, Energinet concluded that a second power cable would not be feasible,{{cite web |author=Kristensen, Søren Dupont |url=http://energinet.dk/DA/El/Nyheder/Sider/Ny-%C3%B8st-vest-elforbindelse-ikke-rentabel-p-%C3%A5nuv%C3%A6rende-tidspunkt.aspx |title=New connection not feasible |work=Energinet.dk |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=7 May 2012}} but if decided, it could run between Studstrup Power Station, which lies north of the city of Aarhus and the power plant at Kyndby (Danish:Kyndbyværket) in Frederikssund Municipality.{{cite web |date=August 2014 |title=Nordic Grid Development Plan 2014 Document no. 13/81818 - 5 |url=http://www.energinet.dk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Engelske%20dokumenter/El/Nordic%20Grid%20Development%20Plan%202014.pdf |access-date=4 January 2015 |work=Nordic TSOs |page=56}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104185833/http://www.energinet.dk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Engelske%20dokumenter/El/Nordic%20Grid%20Development%20Plan%202014.pdf|date=2015-01-04}} In 2015, Energinet started considering a second cable again, due to lower expectations for stationary power in East Denmark.{{cite web |author=Wittrup, Sanne |url=http://ing.dk/artikel/energinetdk-overvejer-bygge-et-nyt-storebaeltskabel-178763 |title=Energinet.dk overvejer at bygge et nyt Storebæltskabel |work=Ingeniøren}}
Technical description
The Storebælt HVDC is a 600 MW Line Commutated Converter (LCC) HVDC at a voltage of 400 kV. It consists of the Fraugde converter station on Funen connected to an existing 400 kV substation, and the new Herslev converter station on Zealand connected to an existing 400 kV overhead line. The converter stations are supplied by Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution,
{{cite news
| url = http://tdworld.com/projects_in_progress/business_in_tech/siemens-transmission-distribution-hvdc-converter/
| title = Siemens to Supply Two HVDC Converter Stations for the Danish Storebælt Project
| publisher = Transmission & Distribution World
| date = 2007-05-24
| accessdate = 2009-02-08}}
with a -120/180 MVar synchronous condenser in each station.{{cite web |title=Low inertia systems and synchronous condensers |url=https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/125170443/2016PESGM_presentation.pdf |publisher=Technical University of Denmark |page=6}}
The interconnector includes {{convert|32|km|mi|adj=on}} long sea cable, {{convert|16|km|mi|adj=on}} long land cable on Funen and {{convert|10|km|mi|adj=on}} long land cable on Zealand.
{{cite web
| url = http://www.energinet.dk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Engelske%20dokumenter/Om%20os/Great%20Belt%20Connection.pdf
| title = Great Belt - Connection. Market implications
| author = Jens Møller Birkebæk
| publisher = Energinet.dk
| date = 2009-12-01
| accessdate = 2010-10-23}}
Operator
The Storebælt HVDC is ordered and operated by the Danish transmission system operator Energinet.dk.
External links
See also
{{Portal|Denmark|Energy}}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Nordic grid
Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Synchronous Grid of Continental Europe
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2010
Category:HVDC transmission lines
Category:Submarine power cables
Category:Connections across the Baltic Sea