Onshore cabling work has been completed for the 383MW Fryslan offshore wind farm, which is located in IJsselemeer lake in the Netherlands.
The 55km, 110kV underground wires runs alongside the A7 motorway to connect to the Oudehaske HV substation near Heerenveen.
TenneT said the cables have been ‘welded’ together at Bolsward and successfully tested.
It added that the weld or so-called ‘terminal block’ between the cables is a temporary application, because TenneT is preparing for a new HV substation to the west of the De Marne business park near Bolsward.
“By connecting existing and new cable connections, this will create an extra ‘ring’ in the West Frisian high-voltage grid from 2023, which will increase the reliability of the electricity grid in addition to capacity,” the company said.
Contractor Visser & Smit Hanab started the construction of the cable connection in September for TenneT and the Zuiderzeewind consortium.
Approximately 23km from Breezanddijk were constructed across the Afsluitdijk to Bolsward, with a further 32km from the latter to Oudehaske.
TenneT project manager Tim Christiaans said: “The construction was complex, partly because the connection is on the verge of the motorway with little space and a lot of traffic.
“The project as a whole has been successful and safe. No incidents and accidents. That’s the most important thing.”
Windpark Fryslan engineering manager Bart Ummels said: “We have been working closely with TenneT since 2016 to realize this challenging route on time.
“This connection is essential for the wind farm: no green electricity without a grid connection.
“I am proud of this milestone and I would like to thank TenneT and contractors ZuiderZeeWind, Visser & Smit Hanab and Prysmian for their good work and the safe execution.”