TritonLink
The TritonLink project covers the construction of a hybrid interconnector between Denmark and Belgium.
The Danish government has the ambition to create an energy island in its waters in the North Sea, hosting 3 GW of offshore wind at first and gradually evolving towards 10 GW while enabling a new connection with Belgium.
The hybrid interconnector will have two functions: connecting the grids of both countries and directly connecting offshore wind farms to the Danish and Belgian mainland. Not only would it enable better integration of renewable energy at sea, but it would also allow more volatile electricity flows in Europe while further enhancing electricity price convergence.
TritonLink will have a high value for the Europe in terms of socio-economic welfare and the decarbonisation of the energy system and as such, Elia and Energinet submitted the project for a PCI-label in 2022 . TritonLink haas been submitted for the first time to ENTSO-e's TYNDP in October 2021.
World’s first long-distance hybrid interconnector linking two energy islands
The TritonLink is a first step in creating an interconnected offshore grid in the North Sea. The hybrid interconnector will transfer offshore wind energy to Denmark and Belgium via two artificial energy islands.
The project covers a total distance of almost 1.000 kilometers, starting from the Danish onshore HVDC converter passing via two energy islands and ending at the onshore HVDC converter in Belgium. This technological feat enables Elia Group (BE), Energinet (DK) and all the companies involved to gain an innovative global lead. Expertise gained from the construction of the TritonLink will help accomplish future sustainable offshore energy projects.
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In the interest of society- Incorporate offshore wind in the European power system: The European Green Deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 by increasing the continent’s current offshore wind capacity. And in response to difficulties and global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU Plan to accelerate the clean energy transition and increase Europe's energy independence from unreliable suppliers and volatile fossil fuels. Thanks to the TritonLink, Belgium, Denmark and Europe will increase their direct access to a large volume of renewable energy that is needed to decarbonise the energy-intensive industry and meet European climate targets.
- Secure energy supplies for both Belgium and Denmark: The TritonLink creates a link between two countries that are not yet directly connected. The big advance of linking the Danish and Belgian transmission grids, is the decorrelation between Belgian and Danish offshore wind. When the interconnector’s transmission capacity is not (fully) in use for the transmission of offshore wind energy, the remaining capacity can be deployed to exchange electricity between both countries. As a result, both Denmark and Belgium will benefit from the maximum use of the available infrastructure.
- Advance European market forces: Thanks to hybrid interconnectors such as the TritonLink, supply and demand can be better aligned. It will enhance market exchange capacity and lower costs, which in turn would have a positive effect on energy prices. The TritonLink will thus have a positive effect on Europe’s socio-economic welfare.
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PlanningThe TritonLink project is currently in the study phase. According to the current schedule, the first exchange of electricity via this hybrid interconnector is planned for 2031/2032.
- 2020-2021: Exploratory studies
- 2021: Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Belgium and Denmark
- 2022-2026: Technical studies, permitting and tendering process
- 2026-2027: Start construction phase
- 2031-2032: Energization
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