TenneT, the Dutch Transmission System Operator (TSO), and its Danish counterpart Energinet.dk, signed a Cooperation Agreement for the COBRA CABLE project -- a new direct current connection between Denmark and the Netherlands. The purpose of COBRA is to allow for the integration of more renewable energy into the Dutch and Danish power systems and to increase security of supply. The power link will also help to intensify competition on the north-west European power markets.
The signing of the cooperation agreement is the starting point of entering the Development and Preparation Phase. The final investment decision will be taken at the end this Phase. The COBRA undersea cable link is expected to become operational around 2016/2017.
Mel Kroon, CEO of TenneT, stated: “We are very pleased with this agreement, since the first feasibility study has proven that the cable will have considerable benefits for both countries. COBRA is expected to make a significant contribution to the integration of wind power in both systems." "In the next four years, we must integrate 40% more wind energy into the Danish power system. Strong power links between the European countries make it possible to integrate markedly more wind energy in Europe," says Peder Ø. Andreasen, CEO of Energinet.dk.
The new cable would also be in line with the EU’s stated ambition of creating more interconnections between the different European countries. The COBRA cable would help strengthen the links that already exist between the Scandinavian countries and the rest of Europe, thus contributing to the integration of the European electricity market. This cable would also contribute to the development of a sustainable international energy landscape, a key priority of European energy policy.
The link will be a DC cable similar to the existing power links from Jutland to Norway and to Sweden and from Zealand to Germany. Dutch TenneT already constructed and operates a power link to Norway (NorNed), and currently another power link to Great Britain is under construction.
