Dutch-German grid operator TenneT has awarded transmission capacity in the range of 22GW, spanning onshore and offshore converter stations using high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology.
The 11 contracts for 2GW HVDC systems total €23bn and form part of TenneT’s efforts to build 40GW of offshore transmission capacity.
They span connections for eight Dutch and three German offshore wind farms, to be commissioned until 2031, delivered via three collaborations, consisting of Hitachi Energy-Petrofac, GE-Sembcorp Marine (SMOP) and GE-McDermott.
Hitachi Energy-Petrofac has been awarded the largest framework agreement, totalling €13bn and spanning five Dutch projects that will be connected in Borssele (IJmuiden Ver Alpha, Nederwiek 1), Eemshaven (Doordewind 1 and Doordewind 2) and Geertruidenberg or Moerdijk (Nederwiek 3), plus the German connection LanWin5 that will be connected in Rastede.
The first contract under the Hitachi Energy-Petrofac framework agreement, for the Ijmuiden Ver Alpha project, was awarded with immediate effect, while the second, Nederwiek 1, is expected to be awarded later in the year.
Each project awarded to Hitachi Energy-Petrofac will be executed under a standalone contract valued at over €2bn, split approximately equally between Petrofac’s and Hitachi Energy’s scopes.
In a “world-first” for offshore wind the 2GW connections will have a voltage level of 525kV, stated Hitachi Energy-Petrofac.
GE-SMOP has been awarded three Dutch projects that will be connected in Maasvlakte, Rotterdam (IJmuiden Ver Beta, IJmuiden Ver Gamma and Nederwiek 2).
GE-McDermott will execute the German projects BalWin4 and LanWin1 that will be connected in Unterweser.
Across the two consortium’s it is part of GE’s contracts totalling €10bn.
The GE consortia will start preparatory work for the realisation of all five projects with immediate effect to ensure that all developments can be delivered between 2029 and 2031.
GE Grid Solutions’ Stafford facility in the West Midlands, UK, will manufacture all the primary HVDC sub-systems and equipment, while its facility in Berlin, Germany, will lead overall project management.
GE expects the contracts to result in the creation of more than 200 new positions in the UK, France, and Germany, including in its supply chain.
Furthermore, TenneT and a consortium formed by GE and McDermott have entered into an agreement based on which TenneT plans to award two further HVDC contracts in Germany for a total of approximately €4bn to this consortium in April 2023.
TenneT expects that the projects BalWin3, LanWin4 (both connecting to the onshore grid in Wilhemshaven) and LanWin2 (connecting in Heide) will soon be awarded.