• Fibre-optic data link to provide technical information about COBRAcable to TenneT and Energinet.dk
• Data cable suitable for possible linking up offshore wind farms in future
• Remaining capacity of data cable will  be made available to the market

TenneT and its Danish counterpart Energinet.dk will start constructing the so-called COBRAcable towards the end of this year. The COBRAcable is a new 325-km-long subsea DC connection (interconnector) that will create a direct link between the Dutch and Danish power grids in 2019.

In order to exchange the necessary information about the COBRAcable, a fibre-optic data link will be installed alongside the interconnector itself. The purpose of this data cable is to facilitate communications between the two converter stations in the Netherlands and Denmark. It can also be used for a number of technical purposes, such as possible failure location and possible vessel identification (in case of damage to the cable) and registering the temperature of the COBRAcable. In future, this fibre-optic link can also be used to connect offshore wind farms to the telecommunications network. The data cable’s remaining capacity will be made available to the market.

About the COBRAcable
The COBRAcable will have a capacity of 700 MW and will run from Eemshaven (the Netherlands) via the German sector of the North Sea to Endrup (Denmark). Two converter stations – one in the Netherlands and one in Denmark – will be constructed onshore to connect the cable to the existing grids. The construction of the COBRAcable will produce benefits for both the Netherlands and Denmark. More renewable energy can be imported, particularly wind energy generated in Denmark. Safeguarding the security of supply is very important to Denmark. The COBRAcable will make Dutch capacity structurally available to the Danish electricity grid, and vice versa. The interconnector will also be designed in such a way as to enable the connection of an offshore wind farm at a later stage. This will contribute to the realization of a sustainable international energy landscape.

Project schedule
Preparations for the construction of the converter station at Eemshaven have already started. Work on the construction of the cable will start mid 2017. The COBRAcable is scheduled to be taken into operation in  2019.