Siemens Energy has completed the piling works for the new converter station near Wilhelmshaven, on Germany’s North Sea coast, in a major milestone in the construction of NeuConnect that marks the first direct energy link between the UK and Germany.
The 725km interconnector will join converter stations at Wilhelmshaven in northern Germany and the Isle of Grain in Kent.
Once operational, NeuConnect will create an “invisible energy highway”, allowing the transfer of up to 1.4GW of electricity in either direction – enough to power around 1.5 million homes.
The German converter station is being built on marshy terrain, requiring significant ground stabilisation. Siemens Energy, the main contractor, has installed 1800 piles to support the superstructure.
Alongside the piling, onshore works in Germany have progressed to include horizontal directional drilling (HDD), with operations and welding of cable sections now underway along the German cable route, laying the groundwork for subsequent cabling phases.
Construction at the UK end of the project began in summer 2023, with activity on the German side starting in May 2024.
Prysmian Group successfully completed the first phase of sub-sea cabling in UK waters in November 2024.
NeuConnect is a flagship energy infrastructure project, aiming to boost energy resilience and support the transition to a low-carbon future.
The interconnector is expected to be fully operational by 2028.
Do you have news for the international trenchless industry? Contact Journalist Gerald Lynch at gerald.lynch@primecreative.com.au
