First Land Cables Pulled for BorWin4/DolWin4
The DolWin4 and BorWin4 grid connection systems are each designed to transmit 900 MW of offshore wind energy from the North Sea to Lingen in southern Emsland.
DolWin4’s cable route extends for approximately 215 kilometres, with about 60 kilometres offshore, while BorWin4 covers around 280 kilometres in total, including roughly 125 kilometres at sea. Both systems follow parallel routes for much of their journey.
The offshore cables for both projects run beneath the island of Norderney before reaching the coast at Hilgenriedersiel. From there, the cables continue underground for about 155 kilometres, ending at a substation in Lingen, where they are integrated into the transmission network.
Previously, this substation was used to connect a nuclear power plant to the grid. After the plant’s shutdown in 2023, 1.4 GW of transmission capacity became available at this location. This capacity will now be used to transport wind-generated electricity to consumption centres in western and southern Germany.
Construction of the DolWin4 and BorWin4 grid connections began in July 2022, starting with onshore works at Norderney Island’s North Beach. Additional construction activities began in Lingen and Wietmarschen the following year. Both projects are scheduled to be commissioned in 2028, supplying enough energy for a city the size of Hamburg, with approximately 1.8 million inhabitants.
