Cable and new substations

Cable

The high-voltage cable was installed in a direct line between Feda (Norway) and Eemshaven (the Netherlands). It partly consists of a single-core cable and partly of a two-core cable. In the two-core cable, one core carries -450 kV, while the other carries +450 kV. When the cables are linked to the two power grids, a direct current of up to 820 Ampère flows through the cores.

The completely waterproof cores consist of nine layers, including oil-impregnated paper, copper, lead, iron and steel. Inside the cable, temperatures reach up to 50 degrees Centigrade; on the outside temperatures do not exceed 35 degrees Centigrade.

New substations

Direct-current connections covering long distances incur little loss of energy. This is the reason that the NorNed cable has been designed as a direct-current connection. However, since the mainland high-voltage grids in Norway and the Netherlands transmit alternating current, large AC/DC converters are required to convert alternating current into direct current and vice versa.

TenneT has outfitted the existing high-voltage substation in Eemshaven with a separate connection, an extra transformer. In addition to this, a large, new converter building has been erected in Eemshaven. The weather conditions in Eemshaven require the use of an indoor converter, as wind and wind-blown sand may damage the equipment. The Feda converter has been mainly set up outdoors, as Feda is located 60 kilometres inland, by a fjord.

Installing the cable How is the cable being installed?
Converter building What the new converter building looks like.