Fingrid Oyj and Svenska Kraftnät have selected Nexans Norway AS to manufacture the new HVDC submarine cable between Finland and Sweden (Fenno-Skan 2). The contract price is approximately 150 million euros. The commissioning of the new interconnector will take place at the end of 2011.
Fenno-Skan 2 will increase the electricity transmission capacity between Finland and Sweden by approximately 40 per cent, integrating the Nordic electricity market even more closely together. In practice, the project will reduce temporary differences in the price of electricity between the various countries within the electricity market. The cable will also reduce losses in the Nordic transmission grids and improve power system security. The agreement will be signed later in spring.
The manufacture of the subsea cable will commence in the autumn of 2009. The submarine cable will be manufactured at Nexans' factory based in Halden, Norway. Installation and laying work will start in the spring of 2011, lasting the summer time. Nexans was selected as a result of a strict bidding process. Nexans Norway AS is a highly experienced company, with over 90 years of experience in the high-voltage cable business globally. With an industrial presence in more than 30 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 22,000 people.
Fenno-Skan 2 will be an 800-MW and 500-kV electricity transmission connection between Finland and Sweden. The connection will be a direct current link. The total length of the link will be approximately 270 km, of which the actual submarine cable will account for some 200 km. The extension is carried out in close co-operation between Fingrid Oyj and Svenska Kraftnät.
Nexans will supply around 20 km of specialized solid, oil-impregnated MIND (Mass Impregnated Non-Draining) cable for both the subsea and land based elements of the Fenno-Skan 2 interconnector. With a copper cross-section of 2,000 mm2, this will be the largest capacity HVDC cable manufactured by Nexans to date.
The installation of the subsea cable, at a maximum sea depth of 100 m, will be carried out by Nexans’own cable laying ship – the CS Skagerrak, and this is scheduled for spring 2011. The cable will be supplied in two continuous lengths of around 100 km, so just one offshore joint will be required.
