Update: EOWDC Transformer Nearing Its Destination

The transformer for Vattenfall’s European Offshore Wind Deployment Center (EOWDC), which recently commenced its final part of the journey to the Blackdog substation site in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is expected to arrive in Blackdog tonight (3 January) and will be transported to the site via Hareburn Terrace, according to the latest update from the developer.

The 92.6-tonne transformer is being transported under police escort on a 30.5 metres long lorry from Greenhillstairs, Moffat, to the site of the EOWDC onshore substation in Blackdog, after it was shipped in to the UK at Tees Port, Middlesbrough.

The transformer’s arrival in the UK follows a voyage from its manufacturing site in Tapioszele, Hungary, by road via Austria and Germany to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from where it was shipped to Teesport, North Yorkshire, for its final journey.

Adam Ezzamel, EOWDC project director at Vattenfall, said: “As a crucial component of the EOWDC, the transformer is an impressive piece of technology. While every effort has been made to minimise any impact on local communities during its transportation, we would like to apologise in advance in case of any inconvenience.”

The transformer will arrive in various components before being assembled on site.

“The transformer will be installed at the Blackdog substation and once up-and-running, it will convert the clean electrical power from 66kV to 132kV for transmission to SSE’s Dyce substation, for further transformation to 275kV and connection to the National Grid network,” Ezzamel said.

The EOWDC project will comprise eleven MHI Vestas 8.4MW turbines scheduled for installation in March 2018. The 92.4MW wind farm is expected to generate first power in summer 2018.