Enhanced security of electricity supply
“Today we are very proud and I will like to thank each and everyone who have contributed to this massive project”, CEO and Vice president at Statnett said at the official opening 11th of September.

The Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen and the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven performed the official opening of the cable. In a joint coordinated opening ceremony at each end of the cable in Eemshaven, The Netherlands, and Feda, Norway, the both Ministers emphasised the importance of closer integration of the two countries’ electricity systems.

“The NorNed project proves how important international collaboration will be to enhance security of power supply”, Maria van der Hoeven said. Terje Riis-Johansen underlined the importance of security of supply and the integration of the Norwegian and the Dutch electricity systems as a means to make Norway less exposed to fluctuations in precipitation.

More stable power prices
NorNed has a capacity of 700 MW. The trial period has provided proofs of stabilized power prices. This is in line with Statnett og TenneT’s intentions for the connection, which is reduced fluctuations in power prices. Odd Håkon Hoelsæter CEO at Statnett emphasised the fact as a result of joining two diverse power systems and two different consumption patterns. He contended that NorNed will bring prices down in at moments when they would have been at their peak, like during the winter in Norway.

“What we see in Europe is a series of separate price areas. Differences in prices may only be reduced by constructing more intercontinental lines. Such connections will give more stabile power prices and increased security of supply”, Mel Kroon CEO at TenneT, said. TenneT and Statnett has together built the EUR 600 million project.