The 400MW "combined grid solution" connection is being developed by transmission operators Energinet.dk in Denmark and 50Hertz in Germany. It will link the two countries' national power grids via offshore wind projects.
Two cables will be installed between substations at the 600MW Krieger's Flak offshore project and the 288MW EnBW Baltic 2 site to establish the interconnector. Krieger's Flak and Baltic 2 are located less than 30km apart.
Frequency and voltage transformers will also be installed along the interconnector in order to match the power in the link to the one required by each country's onshore grid network.
50Hertz CEO Boris Schucht said the EC approval of the plans "shows that cooperation between the European transmission system operators is the right answer to the challenges of the energy transition. With the Combined Grid Solution we create the nucleus for an offshore grid in the Baltic Sea, a milestone in the development of European grids".
In September 2014, the 600MW Krieger's Flak offshore project was delayed for two years as the Danish government at the time was looking to renegotiate the tax-funded subsidies for offshore projects.
The site is due to be completed in 2021. A tender to develop the project will be held in November 2016.
The Krieger's Flak interconnection will be completed by 2018, according to Energinet.dk, as the grid infrastructure is separate from the development of offshore wind projects.
