Sweden has announced its decision to halt the development of the 700-MW Hansa PowerBridge interconnector project, which aimed to link the Swedish and German power grids via a 300-km high voltage direct current (HVDC) connection under the Baltic Sea.
The project, jointly developed by German transmission system operator (TSO) 50Hertz and Swedish peer Svenska Kraftnät, faced a setback with the Swedish government's recent decision, as confirmed by a statement from 50Hertz on Tuesday.
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“50Hertz regrets the Swedish government's decision not to pursue the Hansa PowerBridge project,” the TSO expressed, reflecting disappointment over the development.
Despite obtaining planning approval from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the German side in November 2023, allowing for the land route and coastal sea up to the 12 nautical mile zone, Sweden's withdrawal from the project signals a shift in the initiative's future.
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According to 50Hertz, the decision by Sweden will not jeopardize the security of electricity supply or system stability within its network area, emphasizing confidence in existing infrastructure.
Initially targeted for completion between 2025 and 2026, the Hansa PowerBridge aimed to bolster electricity supply security and facilitate greater integration of renewable energy sources between Germany and Sweden. The estimated investment costs for the infrastructure totaled approximately EUR 600 million (USD 644.9 million).
