Across the choppy waters of the North Sea, a feat of engineering has come to life. The Viking Link, a colossal undersea cable stretching an impressive 760 kilometers (475 miles), has begun transmitting electricity, bringing clean and affordable power to 2.5 million British homes. This groundbreaking project, a collaboration between the National Grid and Danish energy operator Energinet, marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the UK.
Valued at £1.7 billion, the Viking Link project vows to save UK consumers over £500 million in the next decade. How? By importing cost-effective power from Denmark, making energy more economical and environmentally friendly.
A Technological Marvel:
The Viking Link is no ordinary cable; it’s the world’s longest interconnector, capable of transporting a remarkable 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity—enough to power a small city.
This feat is achieved through cutting-edge High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology, which transmits electricity over long distances with minimal energy loss. The cable itself is a marvel of modern engineering, woven with steel and protected by layers of polyethylene and concrete to withstand the harsh North Sea environment.
