France Ponders OW Subsea Substations

RTE France has invited tenders for a feasibility study on HTB submarine substations (>50kV).

RTE aims to question the market on feasibility of implementing high-voltage submarine substations as part of connections for offshore wind farms.

“This type of technical solution could be integrated seamlessly through connecting turbines in commercial wind farms to avoid the realisation of energy collecting stations on platforms,” French transmission system operator explained.

Deadline for the submission of tenders is 11 April.

RTE is working on connections for Fécamp, Saint-Nazaire, Calvados and Saint-Brieuc wind farms. The four projects were awarded consent during the first offshore wind round in France.

First three sites were awarded to the EDF/Alstom Consortium, while Iberdrola and Areva won the rights to develop the fourth site.