The U.K. and Denmark are ready to construct their first electricity interconnector after signing €1.1 billion worth of contracts with cable and converter station suppliers, the U.K.’s National Grid company announced Tuesday.

Under the deal, Italian Prysmian Powerlink will manufacture and install four of the five cable lots while Swedish cable manufacturer NKT HV Cables AB will deliver the onshore cable lot in Denmark.

Siemens will supply and install equipment for two converter station sites in Lincolnshire, U.K. and Revsing, Denmark.

Viking Link, the 1.4-gigawatt high voltage direct current interconnector, will be the longest in the world when completed.

Construction of the Viking Link is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The project is a joint venture between National Grid Ventures, part of National Grid and Danish system operator Energinet.

Viking Link will be the U.K.’s sixth interconnector to Europe.

The National Grid already has three operational interconnectors to France, the Netherlands and Belgium. Two further projects are under construction to France and Norway.

By Zeynep Beyza Kilic

Anadolu Agency

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