Statnett, the state owned transmission system operator in the Norwegian energy system, is reinforcing the country’s electricity network with the Inner Oslofjord power connection project based on Nexans subsea cable technology.

In a project worth around Eur 50 million, Nexans will design and manufacture two new 420 kV subsea cable systems.

Statnett is investing in the Inner Oslofjord project to ensure security of power supplies for customers in central Eastern Norway by replacing two existing links built in 1958 and 1975. The new cable systems will also add value by enabling the exchange of power with Sweden, the company said.

The project covers two new links: One will connect Solberg in Hurum and Brenntangen in Vestby Municipality (Solberg-Brenntangen) and the other Filtvet in Hurum and Brenntangen in Vestby Municipality (Filtvet-Brenntangen). Each link will comprise seven individual cables based on Nexans XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) cable technology installed at a maximum water depth of 220 m.

Nexans will design, manufacture and test the cables for the Inner Oslofjord at its facility in Halden Norway. The cables will be laid by Nexans with Statnett’s cable-laying vessel, M/S Elektron and protected on the seabed by trenching with Nexans’ Capjet system. The project is due for completion in 2018.

Ragnhild Katteland, Technical and Project Operations in Nexans Submarine High Voltage division, said, “Winning the contract for the Inner Oslofjord project further reinforces Nexans’ long standing working relationship with Statnett. It also confirms that whatever the transmission technology, AC or DC, and whatever the cable technology, Nexans is the cable supplier of choice for subsea cable systems.”