Renewables
Nexans begins manufacturing cables for LanWin2 grid link
Production has commenced on high-voltage direct current subsea cables intended for a major German offshore wind connection.
Key points
- Nexans has started manufacturing 525 kV subsea cables at its facility in Norway.
- The approximately one billion euro contract was awarded under a framework agreement with TenneT.
- The LanWin2 project is scheduled for commissioning in 2031.
What happened
Cable manufacturer Nexans has initiated the fabrication of 525 kV high-voltage direct current subsea infrastructure in Halden, Norway. According to Offshore Energy, this development marks the initial commercial-scale output of the company's cross-linked polyethylene technology at this voltage level.
The manufacturing phase follows the qualification of the subsea system. Nexans obtained the roughly one billion euro order in January 2025, building upon a 2023 framework agreement with TenneT. The scope of work encompasses engineering, procurement, construction, and installation for approximately 250 kilometres of onshore and offshore export lines.
Why it matters
The infrastructure forms part of the LanWin2 initiative, a two-gigawatt transmission project designed to move electricity generated in the North Sea towards the Heide area in Schleswig-Holstein. A consortium comprising Siemens Energy and Dragados Offshore is supplying the accompanying converter platform, having cut the initial steel for that component in September 2025.
What comes next
With manufacturing underway, project participants anticipate that the grid connection will achieve commercial operation by 2031, according to reporting from Offshore Energy.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
39.8% of electricity in Germany was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
