Repair of the offshore power cable Skagerrak 2

Norwegian transmission network operator Statnett and Danish Energinet will repair the offshore power cable Skagerrak 2 connecting Norway and DaniI don't know. The connection remains off since the beginning of June, but according to the current schedule it is expected to be back in operation in early September.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the decision to repair has provoked opposition from some Norwegian groups. Their representatives believe that maintaining energy connections with EU countries contributes to the transfer of higher energy prices to the Norwegian market.

Cable failure operated since 1977

Skagerrak 2 was commissioned in 1977. The submarine cable is one of four power connections between Norway and Denmark, leading through the Skagerrak Strait.

The crash happened on June 2nd. The damage was located about 30 km from the coast of Denmark. The examination of the bottom showed no fresh traces of anchors or other activities that could indicate deliberate damage cable. According to Statnett, the most probable cause is wear or previous minor damage, which has increased over time.

Exemption Skagerrak 2 reduced the available interconnection capacity between the States by 245 MW. The entire Skagerrak system allows transmission of approximately 1700 MW of electricity.

Repair is to cost up to 160 million kronor

The cost of the works was estimated at 130-160 million Norwegian kronor, or about 50-60 million PLN. The expenditure will be split in half between Statnett and Energinet.

Much of the costs will be cable hire. The work will require the extraction of the damaged piece of cable, its cut-off and reconnection.

According to current assumptions Skagerrak 2 has been re-transmission of energy since early September. Earlier operator communications indicated 2 September as the expected deadline for termination of the exemption.

Norwegian parties criticise the operator's decision

Representatives of the Eurosceptic Center Party, the far-left Red Party and the right-wing Progress Party were against repair. The politicians of these groups argue that Norway should not increase dependence on the European energy market.

Member of the Progress Party Marius Arion Nilsen estimated that the continuation of the maintenance of cables leading to and from the countries of the European Union did not serve Norwegian customers. The Center Party took a similar position. Its representatives believe that the two oldest connections should be shut down at the end of their lifetime.

Statnett responds that under the terms of the concession, it is obliged to maintain the undersea cables for as long as this remains technically and economically justified.

The future of Norway's merger with Denmark

Skagerrak 1 and Skagerrak 2 are the oldest components of the transmission system between Norway and Denmark. Statnett is considering replacing them with one new connection. The value of such investment can reach 16 billion Norwegian koruna, or about 6.4 billion PLN.

However, any application for a concession will not be submitted before 2027. If a new connection does not arise, the bandwidth between Norway and Denmark may fall from around 1700 to 1200 MW.

Norway is connected to foreign electricity systems using 17 lines and cables. Undersea connections lead to Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Statnett is cable owner Skagerrak 1- 3, whereas Energinet uses half of its capacity on the basis of a long-term contract.

Norway has achieved record energy exports

In 2025 Norway produced record 161.8 TWh of electricity. Exports amounted to 34.3 TWh, while imports amounted to 11.5 TWh. Thus, the excess of exports over imports reached 22.8 TWh, or 14.1 percent of domestic production.

For comparison, it is the amount of energy corresponding to about seven weeks of consumption in Poland. Undersea connections are therefore of great importance for the exchange of energy between Norway and other northern European countries.