Europe News
EU grants EUR86.5 million to COBRAcable project [free access]
July 19, 2010The European Commission has approved a EUR86.5 million grant for implementation of the COBRAcable project, an undersea high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) interconnection connecting the power grids of Netherlands and Denmark. An agreement for the grant has been signed between EU and TenneT TSO BV and Energinet.dk, the Dutch and Danish Transmission System Operators (TSOs), respectively.
The grant agreement was concluded under the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) on the condition of the project obtaining the necessary authority approvals and permissions in the Netherlands and Denmark.
The proposed connection with a capacity of approximately 700 MW will be around 275 km long and will connect Eemshaven in the Netherlands with Endrup in Denmark. Construction costs are estimated at EUR450 million.
The project will become part of a future offshore power grid in the North Sea and will strengthen competition in the electricity market and ensure the integration of large amounts of wind energy into the power grid.
The COBRAcable project is in line with EU ambitions to establish a stronger and more consistent power grid in Europe. The project will also investigate the potential for direct connection of offshore wind farms to the cable.
The link is expected to become operational in 2016, subject to approval from respective ministries and authorities.
(EUR1 = USD1.29)