A consortium comprising Siemens Energy and Spain’s Dragados Offshore is to deliver a series of offshore wind converter platforms for German-Dutch transmission system operator TenneT.
The contract will see Siemens and Dragados supply high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology for three grid connections in the German North Sea.
The projects available through the agreement will ensure a total of six gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power can be transported onshore.
The contract value for the consortium of Siemens Energy and Dragados Offshore is close to €7bn (c.£6.2bn).
Tim Holt, member of the Siemens Energy executive board, said: “In the global race against climate change, grid expansion must be able to keep pace with the accelerated expansion targets for renewable energies.
“Shorter contracting processes, large-scale tenders, and standardisation of solutions show how grid operators and manufacturers are already pulling together to get green energy to consumers faster.”
He added: “However, in order for the industry to continue ramping up capacity, all available levers must now be pulled at the policy level as well – from raw material and skilled labor strategies to further streamlining permitting processes at all levels.”
The three grid connections – named BalWin3, LanWin2, and LanWin4 – will transport electricity from wind farms in the German North Sea to grid connection points in the north of Germany.
Each of the systems has a transmission capacity of two gigawatts.
Siemens Energy will manufacture the main electrical components, such as switchgears, transformers, and converter technologies, at its factories in Europe.
Dragados Offshore is responsible for the construction and offshore installation of the platforms.
With the three new projects, Siemens is now handling 11 HVDC grid connection projects worldwide to connect wind farms in Germany, the UK, and the US.
Once the 11 ongoing projects are commissioned, Siemens Energy’s HVDC technology will feed more than 19 GW of wind power into high-voltage grids worldwide.
The governments of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands recently gave initial approval for the construction of the largest power line of its type in the world, running between the UK and the Netherlands.
The line is a joint venture between the UK’s National Grid and TenneT.
Image credit: Siemens Energy
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