Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) has been awarded an order by the TSO Energinet.dk in Denmark to supply the high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) converter stations for the Storebaelt project which links the islands of Fuen and Zealand. The 600-MW HVDC link will allow access to reserves from other parts of the country, thereby increasing the robustness of the power supply in Denmark and reducing requirements for reserves in the Danish electricity supply. The link is scheduled to go into operation April 2010 and will connect the Western with the Eastern Grid.

The order by TSO Energinet.dk includes the supply of the HVDC converter technology, the design of the HVDC converter stations and delivery of the bulk of the core components such as converter valves, converter transformers, smoothing reactors, protection, and control systems. The Danish provider will supply the AC stations, the valve halls as well as the service buildings. The approximately 56-km long cable between the two converter stations is covered in a separate contract.

The new long-distance HVDC transmission link is the seventh system of its kind in Denmark. It will help to lower the cost of electricity production as it will be possible to distribute production in a more optimum way by connecting the subdivided Eastern with the Western grid. In the future, the 400-kV direct-current transmission system with a power rating of 600 MW will transport electrical energy with low loss across the Storebaelt, between the stations Fraugde on the island of Fuen and Hersley on the island of Zealand and will improve the scope for redressing imbalances in the power system between the two grids.