Sumitomo Electric secures >€500M “Corridor A-Nord” high voltage DC underground cable project
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., with the support of its technology partner, Südkabel GmbH, to deliver the highest voltage 525kV XLPE Insulated High Voltage DC (HVDC) underground cable system for German Corridor Project to supply renewable power generated in the North Sea of Germany to the central and southern part of the country.
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI) has been awarded a major HVDC underground cable project, Corridor A-Nord, by the German Transmission System Operator, Amprion GmbH. The project will form part of the so-called German HVDC corridor projects and is considered one of the most critical power transmission infrastructure projects in the country to support the “Energy Transition” of Germany to introduce more renewable energy to consumers and reduce the country’s CO2 emissions.
There are two projects; “Corridor A-Nord” in the northern part and “Ultranet” in the southern part. Both are part of a Multiterminal HVDC-Link which connects three converter stations in the cities of Emden, Osterath and Phillipsburg. SEI will be responsible for the design, manufacture, logistics, installation, jointing works, commissioning and maintenance of the approximately 300km long cable route for Corridor A-Nord. Start of Construction activities is scheduled for 2023.
“It is a great honour for us to be awarded a project of this magnitude that will provide such important infrastructure for the German society. We are pleased that Sumitomo’s state-of-the-art and innovative DC525kV cable technology has been recognised and highly regarded by Amprion, and we are committed to working together with Amprion to complete the project in a safe, timely and reliable manner” statement by SEI’s Managing Executive Officer, Yasuyuki Shibata.
SEI has been leading the international power cable industry with its own-developed HVDC XLPE insulation technology. In 2019, SEI successfully commissioned the NEMO Project; the HVDC interconnector between UK and Belgium, with 400kV XLPE technology which is currently the highest commercial operational voltage of such insulation in the world. With realisation of Corridor A-Nord project, SEI will further strengthen its leading position in the HVDC industry.
In addition to the technology advantages, SEI has nominated Südkabel GmbH (SK), headquartered in Mannheim, as its German based technology partner for the successful execution of the Corridor A-Nord Project. SK has adopted SEI’s unique insulation technologies, suitable for a hybrid system, where overhead line and underground cable are combined, and completed the type test in accordance with the CIGRE standard, including extensive polarity reversal condition needed for such hybrid system. SK will not only manufacture “Made in Germany” HVDC XLPE cables, but also provide engineering and management resources during the project implementation.
Masaki Shirayama, a member of SEI´s Executive Board said “Sumitomo, in collaboration with Südkabel, will provide the best project execution combination to execute such an important project for the German society. Furthermore, Sumitomo will utilise the group’s eleven existing business bases, employing more than 3,000 people in Germany, to provide a fully localised solution, as a long-term project and business partner of Amprion.”
The Corridor A-Nord project is for underground cable system. On the other hand, there are growing needs for 525kV HVDC XLPE subsea cables with a worldwide trend towards development of more offshore wind farms and interconnections between regions or countries where long distance, high capacity power transmission is needed. SEI is developing such offshore cables, including long term testing, so that it can contribute to the growing trend aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy and a reduction of CO2 emissions.
Source: Cable Technology News
