National Grid launches Viking Link
National Grid has launched Viking Link, a 475 mile-long land and subsea cable connecting British and Danish energy grids for the first time.
Running from Bicker Fen converter station in Lincolnshire to one in southern Jutland, Denmark, across both land and sea, Viking Link is sharing British and Danish wind power, as both countries aim to become hubs of clean energy in Europe.
Viking Link is National Grid’s sixth interconnector and the UK’s ninth, and aims to deliver low cost, low carbon power to UK consumers, helping both power grids to balance the peaks and troughs that come with the growing amount of wind power needed to tackle climate change.
Since it commenced initial operations in December 2023, Viking Link has transported 1,733 GWh of power between the two countries.
With UK renewables volumes only set to increase, by the 2030s the UK is anticipated to become a net exporter of power, making Viking Link and other interconnectors even more valuable, the National Grid said.
In its first year alone, Viking Link is expected to save 600,000 tonnes of carbon emissions – equal to taking 280,000 cars off UK roads.
Group CEO of National Grid, John Pettigrew said:
“In an ever-changing global energy market, the value that connections like Viking Link can provide to national energy security cannot be understated.
“Physical connections to other countries are central to the international collaboration which sits at the heart of the energy transition we are undergoing.
“Our existing fleet, Viking Link and our planned Nautilus and LionLink projects will act as the cornerstone for North Sea nations to make the most of up to 300GW of offshore wind generation, delivering low-cost renewable energy to consumers with the least impact on coastal communities.”
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:
“At 475 miles long, Viking Link is the world’s longest land and subsea interconnector. This incredible feat of engineering will help us achieve net zero while strengthening our shared energy security.
“The record-breaking connection will power up to 2.5 million UK homes with clean energy from a trusted ally, while saving consumers £500 million on their energy bills.”
Image courtesy of National Grid.
