Offshore wind bridges Germany-Denmark power gap

The two countries’ electricity networks are to be connected via offshore wind farms for the first time today (20 October).

Danish transmission system operator (TSO) Energinet and German counterpart 50Hertz will commission a 400MW subsea cable today linking grids in eastern Denmark and northern Germany.

The cable will create a cross-border link between the two countries, as well as the Danish 605MW Kriegers Flak Kriegers Flak (605MW) OffshoreMøn, Zealand, Denmark, Europe Click to see full details and German 48.3MW EnBW Baltic 1 EnBW Baltic 1 (48.3MW) OffshoreRostock, Baltic Sea, Germany, Europe Click to see full details and 288MW EnBW Baltic 2 EnBW Baltic 2 (288MW) OffshoreNorth of Rügen, Baltic Sea, Germany, Europe Click to see full details offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea.

This will make it possible for the first time to send green power directly from the wind farms to consumers and, at the same time, exchange electricity between the two countries, Energinet explained.

During periods of low generation, the cable’s excess capacity will be made available to the market, it added.

The TSOs will use transformers to ensure that the voltage differences between German and Danish electricity is equalised, and a new monitoring system will ensure the cable’s capacity is used optimally.

This will help to lower the price of electricity and ensure a stable supply of electricity, Energinet claimed.

UK and Dutch grid operators are looking at a similar cross-border interconnector project binding each countries’ offshore wind farms.