Viking Link

The cable runs between Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire, UK, and Revsing in southern Jutland, Denmark.{{cite web|url= http://viking-link.com/ | title= Viking Link Interconnector |publisher= viking-link.com |access-date= 2016-02-02}}

{{OSM Location map

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| mark-coord = {{coord|52|55|49|N|0|13|14|W}} | label = Bicker Fen| label-pos = top

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|55|31|23|N|8|42|35|E}} | label1 = Jutland| label-pos1 = top

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The cable has a total length of {{convert|765|km|abbr=off}}, of which {{convert|650|km|abbr=on}} is undersea, passing through Danish, German, Dutch and British waters. It crosses the {{convert|580|km|abbr=on}} long NorNed submarine power cable.

The interconnector is capable of transmitting up to 1,400 MW at 525 kV,{{cite web|url= http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/interconnector-viking-link-icid59.html |title= Viking Link Interconnector - 4C Offshore |website= 4coffshore.com |access-date= 2016-02-02}} resulting in an annual transmission capacity of 12.3 TWh. The actual cable is made of copper, steel, paper and plastic and weighs about 40 kg per metre.{{cite press release|url= https://www.viking-link.com/news/laying-of-world-record-power-cable-between-the-uk-and-denmark-now-complete/ |website= viking-link.com |title= Laying of world record power cable between the UK and Denmark now complete |date= 2023-07-18 |access-date= 2023-08-07}}{{Self-published source|date=August 2023}} It is similar in capacity and length to the UK–Norway North Sea Link.

In November 2015 Viking Link was put on the EU "Projects of Common Interest" list, along with the COBRAcable between Jutland and the Netherlands, and the Krieger offshore wind turbine cable to Germany.{{cite web|url= https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/5_2%20PCI%20annex.pdf |title= Union list of projects of common interest |publisher= European Commission |date= 2015-11-18 |access-date= 2016-04-25}}

In January 2017 Viking Link announced a €1.3 billion tender for seven contracts that detail all aspects of constructing and later maintaining both the land and sea components of the link.{{cite news|url= http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/%801.3bn-tender-launched-for-viking-link-nid5204.html |title= €1.3bn tender launched for Viking Link |website= 4coffshore.com |date= 2017-01-20 |access-date= 2017-01-21}}

In March 2017 Fugro announced the completion of their contract to survey the seabed for the subsea section of the interconnector.{{cite press release|url= https://www.fugro.com/media-centre/fugro-world/article/a-vital-link |website= Fugro |title= A vital link |first= Amy |last= Bergman |date= 2017-03-09 |access-date= 2017-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418101737/https://www.fugro.com/media-centre/fugro-world/article/a-vital-link |archive-date=2017-04-18 |url-status=dead}}

According to some experts including National Grid's head of strategy the UK's decision to leave the EU can negatively influence the effort to link the UK power grid with the continent and may put planned interconnectors such as Viking Link on hold.{{cite news|url= http://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/uk-energy-links-to-europe-at-risk-from-brexit-analysts-warn/ |title= UK energy links to Europe at risk from Brexit, analysts warn |work= EurActiv |first= Elza Holmstedt |last= Pell |date= 2016-05-02 |access-date= 2017-01-14}} In reaction to the Brexit referendum Viking Link stated that the plans to build and operate the interconnector remain unchanged and that they consider the project unlikely to be influenced since it has a strong business case, while National Grid claims that leaving the internal energy market would jeopardize interconnector projects such as Viking Link.{{cite web|url= http://viking-link.com/connecting-energy/viking-link-and-brexit/ |title= Viking Link and Brexit |website= viking-link.com |access-date= 2017-01-14}}

In July 2019 Viking Link announced three contracts totaling €1.1 billion, one with Siemens Energy for the two onshore substations and two for the manufacture and laying of the undersea cables to be done by Prysmian Powerlink S.r.l. and NKT HV Cables AB. Construction work was scheduled to start mid-2020 and expected to be complete by end 2023.{{cite press release|url= http://viking-link.com/news/cable-and-converter-station-suppliers-are-announced/ |title= Cable and converter station suppliers are announced |website= viking-link.com |access-date= 2019-08-10}}

In November 2019, it was announced that preparation work had started on the beach in Denmark.{{cite press release |title=Preparation has started in Denmark |url=http://viking-link.com/news/preparation-has-started-in-denmark/ |website=Viking Link |access-date=5 December 2019}}

In December 2019, contracts were awarded for the UK onshore construction works.{{cite press release |title=National Grid and Energinet have chosen Balfour Beatty to become the civil works supplier for the UK's first ever subsea electricity interconnector to Denmark. |url=http://viking-link.com/news/national-grid-and-energinet-have-chosen-balfour-beatty-to-become-the-civil-works-supplier-for-the-uk-s-first-ever-subsea-electricity-interconnector-to-denmark/ |website=Viking Link |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=20 April 2020}}

In July 2020, Viking Link announced that work had started on the 475 mile (765 km) interconnector.{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/viking-link-475-mile-underwater-interconnector-will-give-uk-access-to-denmarks-clean-energy-12027879 |title=Viking Link: 475-mile underwater interconnector will give UK access to Denmark's clean energy|work=Sky News|date=13 July 2020|access-date=13 July 2020}} Construction commenced with the building of an access road at Bicker Fen.{{cite press release |title=National Grid starts construction on Viking Link |url=http://viking-link.com/news/national-grid-starts-construction-on-viking-link/ |website=Viking Link News Archive |publisher=National Grid / ENERGINET |access-date=23 July 2020}}

In February 2021, Balfour Beatty started drilling work for the project.{{cite web|url=https://www.trenchless-australasia.com/2021/02/17/100-hdd-viking-link-begins/ |title=100 HDD Viking Link begins|date=17 February 2021 |publisher=Great Southern Press (Trenchless Australasia, Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology)}}

Land cables and submarine cables were installed between 2020 and 2023.

In 2023 the cable laying contractor Prysmian announced that the land cables and 870 km of the 1250 km dual subsea cable had been laid with the remaining 380 km subsea cable to be laid between April and July 2023.{{cite web|url= https://www.prysmiangroup.com/en/insight/projects/viking-link-team-completes-the-onshore-cable-installation |website= prysmiangroup.com |title= Viking Link team completes the onshore cable installation |access-date= 2023-05-04}} The undersea section of the link was completed in July 2023.{{cite news |title=Viking Link joins UK and Denmark power grids for first time |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-66235081 |first= Chloe |last= Laversuch |website=BBC News: Lincolnshire |publisher=BBC |access-date= 2023-08-02 |date=19 July 2023}}

File:Revsing Omformerstation 2023.jpg

In August 2023 the cable including its terminations, land and subsea joints completed final electric testing at 735 kV, i.e. 40% above its nominal operating voltage.{{cite press release|url= https://www.viking-link.com/news/final-cable-test-complete-for-national-grid-s-viking-link-interconnector/ |website=viking-link.com |title= Final cable test complete for National Grid's Viking Link interconnector |access-date= 2023-09-20}}

A new 400kV supporting power line in Denmark to increase internal transmission capacity (and reduce overhead power lines from 324 km to 145 km){{cite web |title=Naboer inviteres til at komme med ønsker til 400 kV-linjeføring |trans-title=Neighbors are invited to make wishes for 400 kV line laying |url=https://energinet.dk/Om-nyheder/Nyheder/2019/09/09/Naboer-inviteres-til-at-komme-med-oensker-til-linjefoering-til-400-kV-forbindelse |website=energinet.dk |language=da |date=2019-09-10}} was delayed until late 2025.{{cite web |title=Så kom skovlen endelig i jorden til 172 km lang Vestkystforbindelse |url=https://energinet.dk/om-nyheder/nyheder/2023/11/07/sa-kom-spaden-endeligt-i-jorden-til-172-km-lang-vestkystforbindelse/ |website=energinet.dk |language=da |date=7 November 2023}}

Commissioning of the subsea cable started during November and December 2023 and commercial operation commenced on 29 December 2023.{{cite web|url= https://www.bmreports.com/bmrs/?q=remit/VLL202312312300T-ELXP-RMT-00000001/2/NGVLL |website=BM Reports |title= NGVLL Message Detail |access-date= 2023-12-04}} However, capacity was limited to 800 MW until the associated grid is completed in Denmark around 2025.{{cite web |title=Viking Link åbner med kapacitet på 800 MW |url=https://energinet.dk/om-nyheder/nyheder/2023/12/15/viking-link-abner-med-kapacitet-pa-800-mw/ |website=energinet.dk |date=15 December 2023|language=da}} From 14 January 2024 the Danish transmission system operator Energinet implemented changes that allow Viking Link to transmit at its full capacity under certain circumstances. As such, from 15 to 19 January where the Dutch-Danish COBRAcable was undergoing maintenance, Viking Link was able to transmit at its full capacity.{{cite web|url= https://energinet.dk/om-nyheder/nyheder/2024/01/11/nye-tiltag-sikrer-hojere-kapacitet-pa-viking-link/ |website= energinet.dk |title= Nye tiltag sikrer højere kapacitet på Viking Link |date= 2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=da}} In February 2024 the cable suffered an outage after a minor fire in a switching station in Revsing, Denmark.{{cite news|url= https://www.montelnews.com/news/1536802/viking-link-14-gw-ute-av-drift-etter-brann |website= montelnews.com |title= Viking Link (1,4 GW) ute av drift etter brann |first= Gert Ove |last= Mollestad |date= 2024-02-05 |access-date= 2024-02-08 |language= no |trans-title= Viking Link (1.4 GW) non-operational after fire}}

From its commencement of commercial operation on 29 December 2023 until the end of Q1 2024 Viking Link transmitted 1733 GWh, for a capacity factor of 55%. The transmission was from Denmark to the UK 80% of the time.{{cite press release|title= National Grid launches Viking Link, the next step towards a North Sea super-grid |url= https://www.nationalgrid.com/media-centre/press-releases/national-grid-launches-viking-link-next-step-towards-north-sea-super-grid |work= National Grid plc |date= 2024-04-18 |access-date=2024-11-16}}{{cite press release|title= Viking Link indviet: Forbindelsen har allerede tjent millioner |url= https://energinet.dk/om-nyheder/nyheder/2024/04/17/viking-link-indviet-forbindelsen-har-allerede-tjent-millioner/ |work= Energinet |date= 2024-04-18 |access-date=2024-11-16 |lang= da |trans-title= Viking Link inaugurated: The connection has already earned millions}}

The cable will increase the UK's electricity interconnection level (transmission capacity relative to production capacity) from its comparatively low rate of 6% in 2014.COM/2015/082 final: "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target" [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2015:0082:FIN Text] [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52015DC0082&from=EN PDF] page 2-5. European Commission, 25 February 2015. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151225022701/http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/energy-union/docs/interconnectors_en.pdf Archive] [https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j4nvhdfdk3hydzq_j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vjs4eawsiryh Mirror]

The Viking Link connects the UK to the west Denmark bidding area (DK1) of Nord Pool Spot. An analysis in 2016 showed a DKK 5.6 billion overall benefit for the society using Viking Link, and a DKK 20 billion benefit for heat pumps in district heating. Combining the two yields a benefit of DKK 22.8 billion. By 2022 prices in Denmark were projected to rise by 15 DKK/MWh, and fall in England. The investment was estimated at 13.4 billion DKK.{{cite web|url= http://www.ea-energianalyse.dk/reports/1550_Integration_vindkraft_viking_link_og_andre_tiltag.pdf |title= Viking Link og andre tiltag for integration af vind |page= 37+61+68 |website= ea-energianalyse.dk |date= 2016 |language= da |trans-title=Viking Link and other Initiatives for Wind Integration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307030849/http://www.ea-energianalyse.dk/reports/1550_Integration_vindkraft_viking_link_og_andre_tiltag.pdf |archive-date=2020-03-07 |url-status=dead}}

By the first quarter of 2024 Viking Link had earned ca 20 million Euro, to be evenly split between National Grid plc and Energinet.

{{Portal|the United Kingdom|Denmark|Energy}}

• Electricity sector in Denmark
• Electricity sector in the United Kingdom
• Energy in Denmark
• Energy in the United Kingdom
• List of high-voltage transmission links in Denmark
• List of high-voltage transmission links in the United Kingdom
• Triton Knoll, an 857 MW offshore wind farm under construction, also with an onshore cable linking to Bicker Fen

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|viking-link.com}}
• [http://viking-link.com/media/1142/20161206_viking-link_maps_print_over-all-map.jpg Project route in England]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160813025911/http://www2.nationalgrid.com/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=23204 Map with power line and substation]

Category:Electric power infrastructure in Denmark

Category:Electric power infrastructure in England

Category:Electrical interconnectors in the North Sea

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from Great Britain

Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the Synchronous Grid of Continental Europe

Category:HVDC transmission lines

Category:Denmark–United Kingdom relations

Category:2023 establishments in Denmark

Category:2023 establishments in the United Kingdom