Hadselfjord Cable
OperationalCrossingNO240 MW170 kV10.5 km2023
Basic information
8 fieldsAlso Known As
Hadselfjorden kabelanlegg · Hadselfjorden – Fornyelse av 132 kV kabelanlegg · Hadselfjorden kabelanlegg (Fiskebøl–Melbu)
Status
operational
Capacity
240 MW
Owners
Project Company
Type
crossing
Expected Life
40 years
Website
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (8)
Sept 2023Commercial Operations Full Power
Statnett commissioned and put into operation the renewed Hadselfjorden cable installation between Fiskebøl and Melbu in September 2023, comprising two new three-core copper 170 kV subsea high-voltage cables with a combined transfer capacity of 240 MW. The project, aimed at replacing life-expired 132 kV cables and increasing capacity in the Lofotringen network, had its facilities energised in September and the overall project was formally concluded in November 2023.
2022Cable Installation Start
Nexans’ 2021 contract press release stated that installation of the new Hadselfjord subsea cables was expected to commence in 2022, and Statnett’s project page shows sea cable installation scheduled for 2022 with the new Hadselfjord cable system put into permanent operation on 29 September 2022. This confirms that subsea cable installation began during 2022, although an exact start date is not specified.
29 Sept 2022Onss Commissioned
Statnett’s Hadselfjorden cable renewal project, including two new 170 kV submarine high-voltage cables from the Fiskebøl landfall to Melbu substation, a new switchyard and control house for the cable installation at Melbu, and new terminal mast and renewed towers at Fiskebøl, was put into operation in September 2023. This commissioning brought the new onshore substation and associated infrastructure into service, replacing the 1977 cable installation and increasing transfer capacity to meet future demand in the Lofotringen network.
1 Jan 2022Cable Installation Complete
Statnett has completed installation of a new 132 kV cable system across Hadselfjorden between Melbu transformer station on Hadseløya and a new landfall at Vedvika on Fiskebøl, replacing the ageing 1977 oil‑pressure cable. The new PEX cable arrangement, built as two parallel cables to provide redundancy, is now in place and significantly increases transmission capacity to about 220–230 MW, greatly improving security of supply for Lofoten and Vesterålen.
15 Dec 2021Onshore Construction Start
Statnett’s project page and associated news item "Oppstart av grunnarbeider på Fiskebøl" state that groundworks at Fiskebøl for the new Hadselfjorden cable installation started in December 2021, with the news published on 15 December 2021, marking the start of onshore construction activities.
9 Feb 2021Cable Supplier Selected
On 9 February 2021, Statnett awarded Nexans a major EPCI contract to supply and install the new Hadselfjord high‑voltage subsea power link between Fiskebøl and Melbu, including two 170 kV submarine cable systems of about 8.8 km each at up to 200 m water depth, land-based XLPE underground cables, and related accessories, to replace the 1977 cable and strengthen security of supply for around 50,000 people in the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos.
22 Jan 2021Early Development Other
Licence: license
Statnett reports that NVE granted a concession to renew the 132 kV cable installation across Hadselfjorden on 22 January 2021, enabling construction of the new Hadselfjord cable system from Melbu transformer station via land cable and subsea cable across the fjord.
1 Jan 2020Fid Financial Close
Statnett reached an investment decision for the Hadselfjorden cable renewal project, covering the replacement of the cable installation between Fiskebøl and Melbu, enabling the project to move from planning towards implementation.