Prysmian and NKT Win SuedOstLink Cable Contracts in Germany
TenneTย andย 50Hertzย have awarded major contracts toย Prysmian Groupย andย NKT. The companies will supplyย 1,000 kilometers of 525 kV underground power cableย for theย SuedOstLink transmission lineย in Germany.
Thisย SuedOstLink transmission cable projectย will deliverย 2 GW of capacityย and support Germanyโs transition to renewable energy.
SuedOstLink Transmission Cable Project Overview
The SuedOstLink project will become theย worldโs first large-scale 525 kV XLPE high-voltage DC transmission line. It forms part of Germanyโs broader plan to expand renewable energy infrastructure.
The European Union supports the initiative through itsย Connecting Europe Facility. Meanwhile, TenneT and 50Hertz will invest approximatelyย โฌ5 billionย in the project.
According to TenneT, theย underground cables form the core of the system. The newย 525 kV technologyย allows higher power transmission compared to traditionalย 320 kV systems. As a result, developers can reduce route width and limit construction impact.
Technology and Supply Scope
Prysmian and NKT will each supply aroundย 500 kilometers of cable. However, both companies will use different insulation technologies:
-
Prysmian will use itsย P-Laser insulation technology, which enables transmission aboveย 2 GW on a single system
-
NKT will deliver cables usingย XLPE insulation technology, optimized for high-voltage DC performance
The project includesย five cable lots, with NKT responsible for three of them.
Prysmianโs โฌ500 Million Contract Scope
Prysmianโs agreement with TenneT covers the full project lifecycle. The company willย design, manufacture, install, test, and commissionย the underground cable system.
The contract carries an estimated value ofย โฌ500 million, depending on final project options. Prysmian states that this project strengthens its role in advancing theย low-carbon energy transitionย and modernizing Europeโs power grid.
NKTโs Role and Project Timeline
NKT will supply cable systems to 50Hertz and begin production ofย high-voltage DC cables and accessories. The company plans to start production by late 2021.
Installation will begin inย mid-2022, with full project completion expected byย 2025. NKT brings strong regional experience, with operations inย Cologne, Nordenham, and Berlin, and a history of collaboration with 50Hertz.
As a result, NKT continues to strengthen its position as a key partner in Germanyโsย green energy transformation.
