The world’s longest and most powerful underground high-voltage cable is to be built in Sweden by Alstom Grid and ABB.

Swedish utility Svenska Kraftnat has signed deals worth a total of EUR 363m with the two firms to build the 1440MW South-West Link, which will run 200 km from Barkeryd to Hurva.

Zurich-based ABB has been awarded a EUR 124m contract to provide the cables, while France’s Alstom won a EUR 240m deal to supply HVDC converter stations at both ends.

Svenska Kraftnat’s director general Mikael Odenberg said the South-West Link project ”is the single most important investment in infrastructure currently underway in Sweden” and added that it is ”unique in terms of both scope and technical implementation”.

Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s power systems division, said: “This cable solution will boost power capacity, facilitate power exchange and help integrate more renewable energy. It will also reduce the impact of power system disturbances and contribute to the stability and reliability of the grid.”

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