COBRAcable
Cross BorderOperational
NLDK
700 MW320 kV325 km2019Also known as:COBRA, COBRA cable, COBRA interconnector, COBRA (COpenhagen BRussels Amsterdam) cable, COBRA Fiber Optic Cable
Status:Operational
Capacity:700 MW
Type:cross border
Expected Life:40 years
Website:www.tennet.eu
COBRAcable is a 325 km HVDC subsea interconnector linking the Dutch grid at Eemshaven to the Danish grid at Endrup (near Esbjerg), routed via the German sector of the North Sea. The link is a ±320 kV HVDC bipole with a nominal capacity of 700 MW and includes subsea and...
Supply Chain (6)
Project Timeline (7)
7 Sept 2019Commercial Operations Full Power
COBRAcable entered commercial operation on 7 September 2019, when the 700 MW HVDC interconnector between Eemshaven (Netherlands) and Endrup (Denmark) became available for day-ahead and intraday electricity market trading. The link had completed its testing and commissioning period from 3 July to 6 September 2019. Shadow auctions via the Joint Allocation Office went live on 6 September 2019 for first delivery on 7 September. An official inauguration ceremony was held later on 4 November 2019. The project is jointly owned and operated by TenneT (Netherlands) and Energinet (Denmark).
Jul 2016Geophysical Survey StartStale
Prysmian awarded MMT a contract to perform cable route surveys for COBRAcable, with MMT scheduled to start work in July 2016 using its survey vessels Franklin, Seabeam and Ping. The programme comprises geophysical, geotechnical and visual surveys, including cable‑tracker work for crossings, along the planned subsea HVDC interconnector route between the Dutch and Danish power grids.
1 Feb 2016Cable Supplier Selected
Prysmian Group was awarded a turnkey contract worth around €250 million by transmission system operators TenneT TSO B.V. and Energinet.dk to supply and install the ±320 kV, 700 MW COBRAcable HVDC submarine interconnector between Eemshaven in the Netherlands and Endrup in Denmark, including both subsea and specified onshore cable sections.
1 Feb 2016Converter Supplier Selected
Siemens was awarded a contract by Energinet.dk and TenneT TSO to supply two 700 MW, ±320 kV HVDC converter stations for the COBRAcable interconnector, one at Eemshaven in the Netherlands and one at Endrup in Denmark, providing the land-based terminals that convert between AC and DC for the subsea link.
Sept 2014Fid Financial Close
In September 2014, TenneT and the Danish transmission system operator Energinet.dk made the decision to proceed with laying the COBRAcable high-voltage direct current interconnector between Eemshaven in the Netherlands and Endrup in Denmark, enabling the project to move from development into implementation.
2014Geophysical Survey Complete
In 2014, COWI completed a cable route survey for Energinet.dk in the Danish Wadden Sea, investigating a 6.2 km long, 200 m wide corridor between Esbjerg and the island of Fanø for the COBRAcable route. Using vessel, barge and drone platforms, the survey mapped the seabed and shallow sub‑bottom under challenging tidal and soft mudflat conditions to support detailed route definition for the subsea HVDC interconnector.
Apr 2009Joint Venture Formed
In April 2009, Dutch TSO TenneT and Danish TSO Energinet.dk signed a cooperation agreement to develop the COBRAcable high‑voltage direct current submarine interconnector linking the electricity grids of the Netherlands and Denmark, establishing a joint cross‑border project structure supported by the European Commission under the European Energy Programme for Recovery. The agreement covered construction of a new 325 km HVDC link between Endrup in Denmark and Eemshaven in the Netherlands and laid the basis for the shared ownership of the COBRAcable project.