As of delivery day 7 September, the so-called 'green cable' between the Netherlands and Denmark will be available for the electricity market. The subsea high-voltage direct current cable of approximately 325 kilometres has a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW). This corresponds to the capacity of 2.8 million electric bicycles.
The COBRA cable is an initiative of the Dutch high-voltage grid operator TenneT and the Danish electricity and gas grid operator Energinet. Construction started in 2016 and was completed earlier this year. The interconnector cable runs between Eemshaven (the Netherlands) via Germany and Endrup (Denmark). Two onshore converter stations, one in the Netherlands and one in Denmark, convert alternating current into direct current. This is necessary to transport the electricity without major losses. The converters also convert direct current back into alternating current; electricity grids operate on the basis of alternating current.
Siemens is the main contractor for design and technical equipment of the converter stations in Denmark and in the Netherlands and for the construction of the converter station in Eemshaven. The cables were manufactured and installed by Prysmian.
