Sembcorp Marine and GE Renewable Energy have confirmed a contract from RWE Renewables to supply the high voltage direct current (HVDC) electrical transmission system for the 1400MW Sofia offshore wind project.
Sembcorp Marine and GE Renewable Energy’s grid solutions unit began early design works for the project in July 2020, after being chosen as the preferred supplier of the HVDC electrical transmission system.
The HVDC system represents Sofia’s second largest contract and is worth approximately £600m.
The contract work scope comprises the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the offshore converter platform (OCP) and the onshore converter station (OCS), including all ancillary equipment.
Sembcorp Marine’s scope of work includes the design, construction, installation and commissioning of the OCP.
The 1.4GW Sofia project is located on Dogger Bank, 195 km off the north east coastline of UK in the central North Sea and spans an area of 593 square km.
The OCP comprises a 17,000-tonne topside and jacket foundation structure piled into the seabed 220 km from the nearest shore.
It will be the most powerful and most remote OCP ever built.
RWE Renewables offshore wind chief operating officer Sven Utermohlen said: “Signing this contract with the consortium of GE’s Grid Solutions and Sembcorp Marine for the supply of Sofia’s HVDC electrical system reflects RWE’s strong commitment to innovation and to pushing the boundaries of what is capable within the sector.
“The 1.4GW Sofia project is our first to use the HVDC technology, which was selected to maximise the wind farm’s export capacity from a location so far from shore.
“We are delighted to be working with such a strong pairing on the delivery of this flagship project located on the remote Dogger Bank, in the middle of the North Sea.”
Sembcorp Marine offshore platforms head Samuel Wong said: “Sembcorp Marine is excited to work on this mega-project with GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solution to support RWE Renewables’ Sofia Offshore Wind Farm project to augment its supply of wind energy in the UK.”
“We are grateful to RWE for its vote of confidence in Sembcorp Marine’s capabilities and outstanding track record of delivering offshore platforms to major field developments in Europe and Asia.
“As we move from early design work to the next phase of this ground-breaking project, we are committed to drive design, engineering and operational excellence and deep value creation for our customer.”