Hitachi unit to supply converter stations for German transmission lines

September 15 (Renewables Now) - German transmission system operator Amprion has selected Hitachi Energy as the preferred supplier of four converter stations needed for the Korridor B underground direct-current grid expansion project that will connect the North Sea coast and the Ruhr region in Germany.

The four converters will be built in the area of the grid connection points in Heide, Wilhelmshaven, Polsum and Hamm. The construction works, which will cost a sum in the single-digit billions range, are expected to start by October 2024, Amprion said in a statement on Thursday.

The Korridor B project envisages the construction of two new underground cable connections to transport electricity from the North Sea coast in Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony to the Ruhr region. Each line will be capable of transporting 2 GW of electricity with an option to expand the total capacity by another 4 GW through the placement of additional empty lines.

Korridor B is part of Amprion’s push to transform the German energy system for which it intends to spend EUR 12 billion (USD 12.8bn) until 2026.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.066)