Transmission system operator (TSO) Amprion has initiated construction on the DolWin4 and BorWin4 offshore grid connection projects in northern Germany, marking a significant step in transporting power from offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the mainland.
According to Amprion, work on the two offshore grid connections has begun in Lingen and Wietmarschen, Lower Saxony, where construction sites are being established. The power lines will terminate in Lingen and run parallel to the A-Nord direct current connection between Emden and Wietmarschen. Civil engineering work from the Ems-Vechte-West area to the converter station in Lingen is set to commence in mid-August, after the installation of a cable protection pipe system by the Tief4 consortium.
The cable protection pipe system, into which the power cables will be installed, will see pre-welded pipe strings starting late June, with installation scheduled to begin in mid-August. This process will involve both closed construction methods, such as horizontal directional drilling, and open construction methods.
DolWin4 and BorWin4, each designed with a capacity of 900 MW, are expected to operate largely in parallel and are slated to be operational in 2028. DolWin4 will span approximately 215 km, including around 60 km of submarine cables beneath Norderney Island. In comparison, BorWin4 will cover a total distance of roughly 280 km, with approximately 125 km of its route underwater.
