50Hertz, the transmission system operator (TSO) for japanese Germany, has awarded its Ostwind 4 mission to GE Vernova, in consortium with Drydocks World, a DP World firm that gives marine and offshore providers to the renewable vitality sector, amongst others. The mission entails the design, building, and commissioning of a 2-GW high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) electrical transmission system—the primary of its type within the German Baltic Sea—connecting offshore wind farms to the German grid.
Ostwind 4 is the fourth offshore mission designed to attach wind farm areas northeast of Rügen island to the German energy grid (Determine 1). Each an offshore converter platform and an onshore converter station will probably be constructed as a part of the mission. That is the primary time an offshore wind farm within the German Baltic Sea will embrace 525-kV HVDC expertise, which might transport extra energy than alternating present (AC) connections with decrease losses throughout longer distances.
The wind farm concession space wherein the mission will probably be positioned was bought throughout an public sale by Complete Energies. The realm is positioned on the sting of the German Unique Financial Zone (EEZ). A subsea cable that will probably be roughly 110 kilometers (km) lengthy is because of run from the offshore converter, by the Greifswald Bodden, to Lubmin close to Vierow. An underground cable that will probably be roughly 4 km lengthy will run from Lubmin to the deliberate substation with the counter-converter within the municipality of Brünzow within the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald. The DC will probably be transformed again to AC at that time and fed into the 50Hertz extra-high-voltage transmission grid. The contract for the manufacturing and set up of the subsea and underground cables was awarded to the Danish firm NKT in 2023.
Collaboration Key to State-of-the-Artwork Transmission Challenge
The GE Vernova–Drydocks World consortium is chargeable for delivering each the offshore converter platform and the onshore converter station, enabling seamless transmission of electrical energy from offshore wind farms within the Baltic Sea to the German transmission grid. Because the consortium chief, GE Vernova will provide superior HVDC expertise, together with voltage-sourced converters (VSC), high-voltage transformers, air-core reactors, and g3 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). GE Vernova’s g3 (pronounced “g cubed”) insulating fuel is a substitute for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulating fuel, with a drastically decrease environmental influence—world warming potential (GWP) lowered by greater than 99%, comparatively. In the meantime, g3 merchandise function the identical rankings and similar dimensional footprint as SF6 choices, and function with no restriction underneath the identical temperature vary as SF6 merchandise (right down to –30C).
As a part of the Ostwind 4 mission, GE Vernova will deal with civil works for the onshore converter station and grid automation telecommunications tools. The corporate stated the mission will even profit from GE Vernova’s new HVDC Competence Middle in Berlin, which is concentrated on creating modern expertise to enhance grid stability and combine extra renewable vitality.
Drydocks World will handle the engineering, procurement, building, and set up of the wind vitality converter stations’ topsides and jacket buildings. The topside, which will probably be fabricated at Drydocks World’s Dubai facility, will combine superior tools designed and manufactured in Europe. As soon as accomplished, the platform will probably be transported and put in in German waters.
“The Ostwind 4 mission exemplifies the facility of worldwide collaboration in advancing renewable vitality options,” stated Captain Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World. “Drydocks World is honored to help Germany’s transition to sustainable vitality by delivering cutting-edge offshore infrastructure that embodies engineering excellence and environmental stewardship. This achievement reaffirms our unwavering dedication to innovation and sustainability, setting new benchmarks for offshore wind initiatives and supporting world efforts to construct a greener future.”
‘Pioneering Work’
“The awarding of the contract to GE Vernova and Drydocks World marks the start of a brand new chapter in the usage of wind vitality within the Baltic Sea. 50Hertz is the primary transmission system operator to deploy 2-GW/525-kV expertise on this sea space. That is pioneering work,” stated Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz (Determine 2). “We wish to make sure that the whole thing of the technically and economically viable offshore wind vitality potential within the Baltic Sea is exploited, primarily with the assistance of direct present expertise. To do that, we have to assume and act in an much more networked manner throughout nationwide borders. One prerequisite for that is the creation of authorized and regulatory circumstances that allow wind farms within the waters of different EU [European Union] states to be linked to the German transmission grid.”
GE Vernova famous that Germany has an bold vitality transition (Energiewende) framework, which goals to part out coal solely by 2030 and obtain net-zero emissions by 2045. It stated Germany’s Local weather Legislation requires 80% of the nation’s electrical energy provide to come back from renewable sources by 2030, with a goal of 100% by 2035. “Initiatives like Ostwind 4 are essential in assembly these objectives, enabling the environment friendly transmission of renewable vitality from offshore wind farms to the nationwide grid and lowering dependence on fossil fuels,” GE Vernova stated.
“Ostwind 4 represents a vital milestone in our mission to affect and decarbonize with the vitality to vary the world. By leveraging our superior HVDC expertise, this key infrastructure mission underscores the important function of offshore wind to make sure European vitality safety and to speed up the worldwide vitality transition. This order additionally highlights the fast development in GE Vernova’s Electrification phase, our quickest rising enterprise, as our clients spend money on the grid. We’re very proud to collaborate with 50Hertz and Drydocks World to advance Germany’s renewable vitality objectives and set a brand new normal for a resilient and sustainable grid infrastructure,” stated Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification enterprise.
“Drydocks World’s pivotal function within the Ostwind 4 mission underscores its technical excellence and dedication to advancing sustainable infrastructure. This award displays DP World’s broader mission to drive clear vitality transitions and financial development. As the worldwide vitality panorama evolves, we stay devoted to leveraging our experience and progressive capabilities to help initiatives that drive clear vitality transitions and financial improvement,” stated Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World.
“Ostwind 4 demonstrates the developments in HVDC expertise that GE Vernova delivers to help the combination of renewable vitality sources at transformative scales. Using our voltage-sourced converters, g3 gas-insulated switchgear, and strong system design ensures not solely environment friendly energy transmission but additionally operational reliability over lengthy distances. We’re honored to guide this mission in collaboration with our consortium companion Drydocks World and help 50Hertz in pushing the boundaries of vitality innovation,” added Johan Bindele, chief of Grid Techniques Integration at GE Vernova’s Grid Options enterprise.
—Aaron Larson is POWER’s govt editor (@POWERmagazine).
