Nexans Starts Cable Manufacturing in Norway for Germany’s 2 GW LanWin2 Offshore Grid Link

Nexans has begun industrial-scale manufacturing of its 525 kV HVDC XLPE subsea cable at its plant in Halden, Norway, supplying the LanWin2 offshore grid connection that TenneT is building to bring North Sea wind power to the German transmission grid.

The start of production was announced on 16 October 2026 and marks the first time the company's 525 kV HVDC XLPE subsea cable technology has entered industrial-scale manufacturing.

Nexans advances to industrial-scale production of HVDC cable technology

According to Nexans, the move follows the successful qualification of the cable technology and signals a shift from qualification and engineering work into large-scale delivery under the long-term partnership between the two firms. The company presents the milestone as proof that its next-generation HVDC cable system is ready for deployment at scale across European energy transition projects.

Pascal Radue, Executive Vice President of PWR-Transmission at Nexans, framed the announcement as the step from qualification into full-scale manufacturing and delivery. "Starting industrial-scale production of our 525 kV HVDC XLPE subsea cable at industrial scale demonstrates the strength of our technology, our manufacturing capabilities, and our commitment to supporting Europe's energy transition," he said.

LanWin2 and Germany's offshore grid build-out

LanWin2 is one of TenneT's major offshore grid connection systems, intended to channel renewable generation from the North Sea into the German power grid. The project will deploy Nexans' 525 kV HVDC XLPE subsea cable technology, which the companies say allows large volumes of renewable electricity to be transmitted efficiently over long distances.

TenneT, a leading European transmission system operator, views the start of cable manufacturing as another advance toward Germany's offshore wind ambitions and a more reliable future energy system.

Matthias Mensing, Head of Investment Projects Management & Support at TenneT, described the beginning of production as an important milestone for LanWin2 and for the operator's 2 GW programme overall. "Together with Nexans, we are moving from planning and qualification into industrial-scale delivery," Mensing said.

"Long-term partnerships like this give us the supply-chain capacity and planning certainty we need to deliver the offshore grid infrastructure for Germany's energy transition."

Frame agreement signed in 2023

The manufacturing start rests on a frame agreement the two companies established in 2023. That agreement was designed to secure supply chain capacity, give both parties planning certainty, and speed up delivery of the transmission infrastructure required for Europe's energy transition.

Both Nexans and TenneT point to the start of production as evidence of the progress made under that strategic arrangement.

Timeline for LanWin2 and BalWin3

The cables now entering production in Halden will be installed for the LanWin2 offshore grid connection, which is scheduled for commissioning in 2031.

The milestone also carries relevance for other work under the TenneT frame agreement, notably BalWin3, where cable installation in the Wadden Sea and nearshore areas is planned for 2027. Nexans says the production start demonstrates the readiness of the 525 kV HVDC XLPE technology for these additional projects.

Both LanWin2 and BalWin3 remain on schedule, according to the companies, which describe the two schemes as continuing evidence of the momentum behind TenneT's large-scale offshore grid expansion programme.