The intention is to link the Norwegian and German electricity transmission grids. Germany will have access to clean and flexible hydroelectric power at reasonable prices, and provide Norway with surplus energy, predominately from wind power. The interconnector will contribute to advanced integration of the European power market, more efficient energy production and increased wind power development.

This agreement demonstrates that Statnett, together with large Norwegian power producers and European power companies, can combine common commercial targets with an important project for the society as a whole. In addition to its significant long term value-creating effects, interconnectors like NorGer, create a win-win situation for the climate, businesses and consumers, the four CEOs Hans Schulz (EGL), Eimund Nygaard (Lyse), Tom Nysted (Agder Energi) and Auke Lont (Statnett), state.

With Statnett's entry, not least adding financial resources, project execution experience and professional engineering capability, the project has higher realization likelihood.

According to calculations, the socio-economic benefits of cable connections between Germany and Norway will be sound. NorGer will improve security of power supply, increase value creation related to power generation in the South West of Norway and Norway as a whole, and facilitate more renewable energy production both in Norway and Germany.

NorGer has received very positive feedback so far from stakeholders in Germany and the EU.

Facts about NorGer

The project is to be accomplished by laying an approximately 600 kilometer-long high voltage, direct current cable (HVDC) on the bed of the North Sea. The cable will have a capacity of 1'400 MW.

According to plan, the cable will come ashore close to Wilhelmshaven on the North Sea coast on the German side, where a converter station will be built for coupling to the German high voltage grid in Moorriem (close to the town of Elsfleth). In Norway, the cable will come ashore in the Flekkefjord area and power will be carried by a 70 kilometer-long overhead power line to Tonstad in the Sirdal municipality. A converter station will be built for coupling to the Norwegian high voltage grid.

The owners of NorGer

Agder Energi AS is one of the largest energy groups in Norway in terms of hydroelectric power production. The vision of Agder Energi is to be the leading Norwegian provider of environmentally friendly energy solutions. Agder Energi is owned by local municipalities (54,5%) and the Norwegian energy company Statkraft (45,5%). www.ae.no

Lyse is an energy company mainly dealing with production and transmission of hydroelectric power. The daughter companies operate within production, gas, trading, grid, telecom and market. Lyse is fully owned by local municipalities. www.lyse.no

Statnett is Norway’s national power grid company. Statnett is first of all responsible for all high voltage electricity transmission and distribution in Norway. Such distribution is mainly from the country’s main hydro-electric power production plants countrywide. Statnett also owns the cable for hydroelectric transmission between Norway and the Netherlands together with the Dutch Transmission System Operator TenneT. www.statnett.no

EGL is a European energy trading company with its own assets. EGL is a leader in proprietary trading, in the sale of standardized products and in the development of structured products and innovative services for customers. EGL is accredited to trade on all major European energy exchanges and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Its head office is in Dietikon, near Zurich (Switzerland). It also has a local presence in many parts of Europe, through more than 20 of its subsidiaries. www.egl.eu

Contact information

Agder Energi: Mr. Realf Ottesen, Tel.: +47 907 34 206

Lyse: Mr. Ole Børge Gabrielsen, Tel.: +47 934 88 301

Statnett: Mr. Tor Inge Akselsen, Tel.: +47 950 79 520

EGL: Ms. Lilly Frei, Head Corporate Communications, Tel.: +41 44 749 40 10