TenneT, the European transmission system operator, has awarded contracts to NKT and Prysmian Group for cable connections in five upcoming Dutch offshore wind farms with a total capacity of 2GW. Prysmian Group has been awarded contracts worth around €1.8bn to provide grid connections for IJmuiden Ver Alpha and Nederwiek 1 offshore wind farms, which have a combined capacity of 4GW.
The firm will connect the two offshore wind farms in the Dutch North Sea to the Zeeland province in southwestern Netherlands. Meanwhile, NKT has secured contracts for three future offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 6GW.
TenneT's Chief Operating Officer, Tim Meyerjürgens, stated that both companies would provide engineering, production, design, delivery, project management, offshore, nearshore, and inshore installation, and commissioning of 525kV XLPE high voltage direct current (HVDC) cables under the contracts. Furthermore, both companies will carry out all jointing works in submarine and land sections.
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Meyerjürgens added, “Our qualification programme has shown that Prysmian is on track for this new offshore connection standard. By realising the world's first 525 kV XLPE HVDC offshore cable systems to connect 2 GW projects, we jointly reconfirm our front runner position in offshore grid development and our commitment to deliver on the joint ambition to develop the North Sea into the green power plant of Europe.”
According to TenneT, NKT and Prysmian Group are expected to start contract-related activities this year. Onshore cable laying activities are scheduled to begin in 2025, while offshore cable laying activities will commence in 2026. All five offshore Dutch wind projects are expected to be operational between 2028 and 2030.
