With Europe transitioning into the electricity age, the need for clean energy is rapidly increasing in sectors like industry, transportation, and digital infrastructure, rendering the enhancement of grid capacity essential for energy security, economic development, and social advancement.
To meet this demand, Hitachi Energy, a worldwide leader in electrification, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an acclaimed Indian multinational renowned for its Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC), manufacturing, and Services, announced the receipt of the Nederwiek3 and LanWin5 awards, the third and fourth projects under their previously disclosed multi-year Framework Agreement with TenneT.
Hitachi Energy and L&T are currently partnering to provide Nederwiek1 and IJmuiden Ver Alpha. Today’s announcement enhances this collaboration through Nederwiek3 and LanWin5, HVDC connections that will each deliver 2 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy from the North Sea to land, facilitating the incorporation of offshore wind energy into the national grids of the Netherlands and Germany, respectively.
Nederwiek3 will link to an onshore converter facility in Geertruidenberg, located in the southern Netherlands, whereas LanWin5 will provide renewable energy from the North Sea to Lower Saxony, Germany. The two connections will deliver 4 GW of clean energy to the grid – sufficient to supply power to roughly 4 million homes while boosting energy security and improving grid reliability.
Within TenneT’s significant 2 GW Program, the initiatives illustrate the transition from isolated connections to a more integrated, adaptable grid framework, establishing the groundwork for a robust European electricity system. The projects are intended as part of the larger progression towards a more interconnected European grid, with future connections already incorporated into their design.
A primary goal is to connect Nederwiek3 to the British grid via the LionLink interconnector, which is in development, establishing a versatile interconnector that enhances connections between European and UK energy markets while maximizing the North Sea's capacity as a renewable energy source.
Eventually, these connections are anticipated to transform into multi-terminal centers, facilitating a more effective utilization of current infrastructure for upcoming links and aiding in the creation of a more adaptable, robust, and unified power system.
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This idea has been showcased in the UK via the 1,200 MW Caithness Moray Shetland initiative, Europe’s inaugural multi-terminal HVDC VSC link, representing a major advancement towards a future network of energy superhighways and hubs that can incorporate additional clean energy, optimize grid resources, enhance AC grid efficiency, and bolster overall system resilience.
“As a pioneering technology and market leader, we are delighted to deliver our HVDC technology for Nederwiek3 and LanWin5, combining world-class energy and digital systems," says Niklas Persson, CEO of Grid Integration Business Unit Hitachi Energy.
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"Our strong collaboration with L&T, built on an agile business model, scalable solutions, and synergies among projects, enables us to support TenneT in accelerating offshore wind deployment in the North Sea and Europe’s ambition to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent,” adds Niklas Persson.
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“This framework agreement with TenneT marks a significant milestone in L&T's journey as a global leader in sustainable infrastructure and clean energy solutions. As nations accelerate their transition towards a low-carbon future, the development of robust offshore transmission networks will be critical to integrating renewable energy at scale. We are proud to strengthen our partnership with TenneT and Hitachi Energy in supporting this transformation. This collaboration reflects the confidence placed in L&T's engineering capabilities, innovation, and execution excellence, and underscores our commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure that enables energy security, sustainability, and long-term value creation for stakeholders worldwide,” says S. N. Subrahmanyan, Chairman & Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro.