Danish transmission system operator Energinet is ready to design the upcoming high voltage station to connect the Bornholm electricity grid to the energy island planned for Bornholm and its offshore wind farms.
Energinet said that initial analysis shows, firstly, that it will probably be technically possible to connect the energy’s power cables to the Bornholm electricity grid without compromising either stability or security of supply in the entire electricity grid on Bornholm or elsewhere.
The TSO said it is estimated this can be done without compromising the schedule of the overall project.
Secondly, the analysis shows that there will be a socio-economic saving by connecting the Bornholm electricity grid to the energy’s future power connections, it added.
Over the past six months, Energinet has carried out an initial analysis of technical possibilities and financial consequences of connecting the Bornholm electricity grid to Energio Bornholm’s future electricity infrastructure.
The preliminary assessments from the analysis show that it will probably be possible to connect the Bornholm electricity grid to the energy island’s electricity infrastructure with a 60kV connection.
The TSO said that estimates of costs for the various technical solution options are still subject to uncertainty, but right now the most expensive solution is estimated to cost approximately Dkr230m (€31m) extra in construction costs.
“This expenditure must be kept up against a saving of the current expenditure on fossil reserves, ie, costs of keeping a power plant ready to produce electricity in the event of a fault or break in the cable between Bornholm and Sweden,” Energinet said.
It added that over 40 years, the savings will amount to Dkr676m converted to present value.
Energinet deputy director of Energy Islands Hanne Storm Edlefsen said: “At Energinet, we have had a good and close dialogue with Bornholm’s Regional Municipality.
“We have a great understanding of the people of Bornholm’s desire to reap the benefits that Bornholm can get out of a connection – both in relation to consumption and production of green electricity on the island.
“Therefore, I am super happy that we can now work towards a connection of the Bornholm electricity network to the energy island’s electricity connections.”
Energinet is now continuing to work with technical analysis and development in such a way that the solutions chosen do not jeopardise the stability, security of supply or the timetable for the realisation of the project.