NORD.LINK, Submarine power cable between Ertsmyra and Wilster, Norway/Germany
NORD.LINK is a power cable connecting Norway and Germany through a route exceeding 600 kilometers, combining underwater sections beneath the North Sea with land cables at both ends. The system operates as a high-voltage direct current line, creating a physical bridge between the two nations' electrical grids.
Construction began in 2015 after several years of planning and finished in 2021 with full activation. This investment created the first direct electrical connection between two neighboring European grids that had previously operated independently.
The electrical link between Norway and Germany shows how two countries share their energy sources: Norwegian hydropower flows south, while German wind energy moves north. This mutual dependence has reshaped the power market in both nations and demonstrates how energy cooperation works across borders today.
The cable runs mostly out of sight beneath the seabed and along land routes, so visitors can only see the endpoints or transformer stations. Those interested in viewing the infrastructure should contact local authorities or utility companies, as access to technical facilities is restricted for safety reasons.
Testing the cable was not without incident: in 2020, an accidental attempt to import power at full capacity caused a small frequency shift across the entire Nordic power grid. This revealed how sensitive the linked networks are to unexpected changes in power flow.
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