Alstom Grid wins innovative offshore platform substation contract in Germany

The consortium Alstom Grid / WeserWind GmbH Offshore Construction Georgsmarienhütte has won a turnkey construction and grid connection contract for a self-floating and self-installing* offshore high voltage substation (OHVS).

EnBW Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, Stuttgart, awarded the project to build, install and connect a 155/33 kV substation for their 80-turbines, 288 MW offshore wind farm named “EnBW Baltic 2” situated approximately 30 km north of the Rügen Island in the German Baltic Sea via a High Voltage Alternate Current (HVAC) connection onshore to the grid of 50Hertz Transmission GmbH, the regional transmission service operator (TSO).

This innovative, tailor-made solution combines state-of-the-art technology and the highest possible safety standards. The operational and construction advantages compared with standard solutions, i.e. no need for offshore heavy lifting cranes, are an important differentiating factor as installation bottlenecks are avoided.

“The second contract for this type of offshore substation is important as our customers acknowledge the innovative technology that we have developed with our consortium partners. We expect this floating substation technology to be become a standard in the rapidly developing offshore wind market in the years to come,” said Michel Augonnet, Senior Vice President, Alstom Grid.

Scope of supply includes Alstom Grid power transformers, High and Medium Voltage gas-insulated switchgear, auxiliary power supply, substation automation, protection and control systems for 80 wind turbines. The platform will be equipped with boat landings and a heli-hoist and will be used as a logistics service platform during installation and operation of the offshore wind farm.

This contract is in consortium with the steel manufacturing company WeserWind GmbH Offshore Construction Georgsmarienhütte in Bremerhaven, Germany, who will construct and deliver the hull, the steel structures as well as the major part of the secondary equipment required for operation of the platform, and provide the offshore installation services for the complete substation platform.

Offshore commissioning is scheduled for June 2012.

* ‘Self-floating’ and ‘self-installing’ are industry terms for our offshore platform technology which is a floating, self-contained substation. Once positioned, no cranes or lifting devices are required to install or raise the platform above sea-level to its design-specified height.

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Source: alstom, September 20, 2010;