TenneT Contracts for SuedOstLink Cable Corridor Project in Germany

TenneT TSO GmbH, the Dutch-German grid operator, has awarded Prysmian Group a contract for the SuedOstLink project in Germany, one of the longest HVDC underground cable connection. 

Worth approximately €500 million depending on options, Prysmian is to design, manufacture, supply, lay, joint, test, and commission a 2 GW underground cable system through the TenneT region of this first German Corridor.

With SuedOstLink, Prysmian extends its involvement in strategic underground interconnection projects, alongside the Piedmont-Savoy connection between Italy and France, the INELFE link between Spain and France, the ElecLink project running through the Eurotunnel between France and the UK, and the ALEGrO connection between Belgium and Germany.

Prysmian will deliver a ±525 kV HVDC underground cable system, the first HVDC link to use extruded cables at this highest voltage level, combined with large copper conductor cables and Prysmian own developed P-Laser insulation technology, with higher operating temperature, to enable a transmittable power of more than 2GW on a single system for the first time. The route, with a length of over 250 km, starts at the Southern Germany connection point at Isar, close to Landshut in Bavaria. Prysmian will provide all related accessories, as well as an integrated PRY-CAM monitoring system. A high-quality and efficient installation shall be assured with optimized long length solutions, extending beyond 2 km, overseen by a strong and dedicated local project engineering and management team. Project completion is planned in early 2026.

In selecting P-Laser insulation technology, TenneT recognizes the benefits of this innovative Prysmian product based on HPTE (High Performance Thermoplastic Elastomer). With a solid history in MV application, this is a fully qualified high-performance insulation system that has evolved over the years in a comprehensive HVDC development program of rigorous testing and extensive trials. P-Laser is suited for the highest voltage levels delivering enhanced thermal performance and high intrinsic reliability that enable more flexible and sustainable solutions, such as optimized construction with reduced trench widths. It is fully recyclable, and with increased productivity and 30% (calculated with a simplified LCA methodology) lower CO2 emissions in production, has much higher environmental credentials compared to more conventional technologies.