 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2009) |
| Kontek HVDC | |
|---|---|
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 Map of Kontek HVDC | |
| Location | |
| Country | Germany Denmark |
| Coordinates | 54°06′03.2″N 12°13′1.4″E / 54.100889°N 12.217056°E 54°11′12″N 12°07′58″E / 54.18667°N 12.13278°E 54°33′44″N 11°57′41″E / 54.56222°N 11.96139°E 55°27′0.9″N 12°0′26.7″E / 55.450250°N 12.007417°E |
| Ownership information | |
| Operator | 50Hertz Transmission GmbH Energinet.dk |
| Construction information | |
| Manufacturer of conductor/cable | ABB NKT Cables |
| Commissioned | 1995 |
| Technical information | |
| Type | submarine cables (52 km (32 mi)) underground cables (119 km (74 mi)) |
| Type of current | HVDC |
| Total length | 171 km (106 mi) |
| Power rating | 600 MW |
| AC voltage | 400 kV (both ends) |
| DC voltage | 400 kV |
| No. of poles | 1 |
The Kontek HVDC is a 170-kilometre (110 mi) long, monopolar 400 kV high-voltage direct current cable between Germany and the Danish island Zealand. Its name comes from "continent" and the name of the former Danish power transmission company "Elkraft", which operated the power grid on the Danish islands Lolland, Falster and Zealand and had the abbreviation "ek". As of today, the cable is operated by Energinet.dk in Denmark and 50Hertz Transmission GmbH in Germany.
Kontek is remarkable because, in contrast to similar facilities like Baltic Cable and Konti-Skan, all land sections of the 119-kilometre (74 mi) onshore lines on Falster, Zealand and Germany are implemented as underground cable. This unusual measure, which raised the construction costs of Kontek significantly, was made for practical rather than technical reasons. Obtaining permission for building overhead lines can take a long time, and hence underground cables were used in order to ensure it was completed on schedule.