Siemens Energy to Build Moray West Onshore Substation

Siemens Energy has won the contract to provide an onshore substation for the 860 MW Moray West offshore wind project in Scotland.

Subject to the award of a Contract for Difference in 2022 and Financial Close, the onshore substation for the wind farm will feature Siemens High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) equipment.

Project design and execution will be provided from the Siemens Energy offices in Manchester, their global competence centre for all HVAC offshore wind farm grid connections.

The substation will be built at Whitehillock, near Keith in Moray, and will step up the voltage from 220 to 400 kilovolts (kV). Its location has been selected to minimise environmental impact and allow connection to existing national electricity transmission system infrastructure at the neighbouring Blackhillock substation, the project developer said.

Siemens Energy has also recently been selected to supply two offshore substation platforms for Moray West in consortium with Iemants.

The Moray East substation near New Deer in Aberdeenshire was also supplied by Siemens Energy, as was much of the infrastructure at the Blackhillock substation, which is the largest in the UK.

”The decision to select Siemens Energy was made after an extensive procurement process. Siemens Energy have a strong track record, including the delivery of the Moray East substation and we are delighted to work with them on the next Ocean Winds project, Moray West. Siemens Energy will deliver more world class electrical infrastructure for Moray West to ensure the project can reliably export green electricity to consumers across the UK,” Project Director for Moray West, Adam Morrison, said.

”Siemens Energy is committed to using local contractors and will work with the Moray West project team to maximise the potential for the regional supply chain to secure sub-contracts on this part of the overall project, including through Meet the Buyer events.”

The Moray West project is being developed by Ocean Winds, a partnership between EDPR and ENGIE for the purpose of offshore wind deployment. Lithuania’s Ignitis Group has a minor shareholding in the project.

The wind farm will feature up to 85 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines installed over 22 kilometres from the coastline. The exact number of turbines is yet to be determined. Moray West has a rapid deployment plan, including first power planned for 2024. 

Phil Manley, Project Director, Siemens Energy UK&I said: ”Our experience in Scotland working with local suppliers to deliver renewable and transmission projects is extensive, and we’re pleased to be able to bring this local expertise and our world-class technology, to the Moray West project.”