Danish cable manufacturer NKT has signed a contract with transmission system operator Energinet to supply and install the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power cable system connecting Denmark’s Bornholm Energy Island to Zealand, the company said on Tuesday.
The €650 million contract covers the design, production, and offshore and onshore installation of a 525kV HVDC cable system, including approximately 200 kilometres of subsea cables and 16.8 kilometres of onshore cables.
“We are delighted and proud to continue the long-term collaboration with Energinet on this innovative and ambitious project,” said Claes Westerlind, president and CEO of NKT. “Bornholm Energy Island is a key project for Europe to enhance energy security and the exchange of renewable energy.”
Located in the Baltic Sea, the Bornholm Energy Island will serve as a central hub for up to 3.8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power, with energy transmission planned via two HVDC interconnector systems to Denmark and Germany.
This latest contract builds on NKT’s existing involvement in the project, including a separate turnkey contract signed in 2023 with German transmission operator 50Hertz for the German side of the connection.
NKT plans to manufacture the cables at its high-voltage factory in Karlskrona, Sweden, which operates on renewable electricity. The facility’s location near the Baltic installation area is expected to reduce transport emissions associated with the project. Offshore installation will be carried out by NKT’s new cable-laying vessel NKT Eleonora, currently under construction.
“With this award, we reaffirm our strong commitment to building the sustainable and secure energy infrastructure Europe needs,” Westerlind added. “It also demonstrates our proven high-voltage power cable capabilities.”
The Bornholm Energy Island project is part of broader efforts by European countries to strengthen cross-border energy infrastructure and accelerate the deployment of offshore renewable energy.
