Early start for Bornholm energy island technologies tender

The transmission system operators (TSOs) were advised to start tendering early in order to reserve production capacity, alleviate supply chain constraints and keep to the project timeline.

The TSOs will split the tender into multiple contracts. This will enable vendors interested in bidding on the HVDC stations and cables to bid on contracts within their core business, while other parts of the project will be tendered separately, the TSOs said in a joint statement.

HVDC equipment for the stations in Germany and Denmark will be tendered as one joint contract, which was sent to prequalified vendors on 30 November.

Procurement of the HVDC-breakers – a future key technology for the energy island – remains an option, to be built either as part of the initial construction or as a separate tender in a later phase.

“We cannot ignore the current market situation. HVDC circuit breakers will play an important part in the operation of our energy island but are not crucial in the initial phase. Therefore, we have decided that it is more important to ensure a competitive bidding process and to keep up the pace of the green transition in order to secure the supply of clean electricity to consumers in Germany and Denmark,” said Hanne Storm Edlefsen, vice president for energy islands at Energinet.

50Hertz has already signed a contract for the procurement of HVDC cables for the Bornholm energy island and several other projects.

Energinet has started the tender for one cable production contract, and for offshore installation.

Onshore installation and horizontal directional drillings will fall under a separate contract, as will the surveying and removal of unexploded ordnance.

Civil works and the buildings for the HDVC stations will be tendered for Denmark and Germany, respectively, at a later time.

Construction on Energinet’s part of the project in Denmark can start once it has received an environmental permit and archaeological excavations have been completed in 2025.

In Germany, installation and construction can start after permits are granted by the authorities.

---

Click here to subscribe to the grids and transmission bulletin to receive fortnightly news, analysis and comment straight to your inbox and visit our dedicated section for more grids and transmission news.

To submit a news, comment, case study or analysis idea for the grids and transmission bulletin, contact the editorial team.