NeuConnect HVDC Interconnector

Tender description

The NeuConnect interconnector will be the first UK to Germany interconnector. It will connect and facilitate power between the UK transmission system at the Isle of grain and the German transmission system near Wilhelmshaven. The interconnector, which is sized at 1400MW (receiving end) to take advantage of provendesign and technology, has a cable route of approximately 720 km that routes through UK, Netherlands and German territorial waters before making landfall at either end. It comprises cables of equal size and capacity intended to operate at opposite polarity in a bi-pole configuration. At the UK end the land route isless than 2 km whilst on the German side there is a route of approximately 18 km to the converter site. It is envisaged that there will need to be a single survey,maintenance, emergency response and repair contract for the cable and a separate contract for the converter operation and maintenance. Lot 1: Converters - Two rigid Bi-Pole Converter stations (receiving end capability of 1400MW at the AC connection point) including AC Connection Works in the UK and Germany. Single maintenance & emergency repair / response contract is envisaged that covers both UK and Germany converters for a term of 25 years, althoughthe initial term covered in this notice is 10 years after the commercial operations date.