Lead contractor Siemens Energy has started work on the converter station at Bicker Fen in Lincolnshire for National Grid's 1400MW Viking Link, which will allow the transfer of clean power between the UK and Denmark.

The converter station will cover 300 square metres and house state-of-the-art HVDC Plus technology, which enables the export and import of energy through the 765km subsea and underground cable to and from Denmark.

It converts electricity between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC).

AC is used in each country’s transmission system, while DC is used for sending electricity long distances along the subsea cables.

An identical converter station will be constructed at the other end of the link in Denmark.

Work started in July to build a new access road and a bridge over the Hammond Beck waterway.

This infrastructure will enable access for the major construction equipment to the converter station and for operational vehicles to access the site once the converter station is completed in 2023, reducing traffic through Bicker Village.

In total around 60 people are working on the site following government and industry guidelines for Covid-19 management.

Siemens Energy UK&I head of transmission solutions Mark Pilling said: “Viking Link will play a vital role in the UK’s future energy system allowing the transmission of power with Denmark.

“This will enable further decarbonisation of the UK’s electricity supplies and help reach net zero.

“This next stage of construction will see the heart of the project begin to take shape, with the converter station housing the equipment needed to transmit this power safely and efficiently.”

Viking Link is a joint venture between National Grid Ventures, part of National Grid, and the Danish electricity system owner and operator Energinet.

An impression of the converter station is shown.