The Viking Link, the world's largest interconnector poised to transform the energy dynamics between the United Kingdom and Denmark, is nearing completion to power 1.4 million homes with clean, renewable energy from Danish wind farms (via Interesting Engineering).
This ambitious project is a joint venture between the UK's National Grid and Denmark's Energinet. Spanning an impressive 475-mile undersea cable, this engineering marvel promises to be a game-changer in sustainable energy.
The Viking Link is scheduled to go operational on December 29, 2023, with an 800 MW import and export capacity.
Viking Link
The Viking Link, which started construction in December 2015, has been an endeavour steeped in meticulous planning, requiring over three million working hours.
The deployment of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable made of copper, steel, paper, and plastic, strategically placed across Dutch, German, Danish, and British waters, began in 2019.
This intricate network weaves its way through over 40 other energy transmission lines.
Initial Capacity Cap
However, as the Viking Link inches toward its operational phase, it faces an initial cap on its capacity.
According to Energinet, the full capacity of 1,400 MW cannot be offered to the electricity market immediately because the West Jutland high-voltage grid has not yet been sufficiently developed. The interconnector will commence operations at a reduced 800 MW.
