Dutch-German transmission system operator TenneT has kicked off the onshore construction phase of its 900MW DolWin6 grid connection for the German North Sea.
The site for the onshore converter station in Emden, Germany, was handed over to general contractor Siemens on 1 October.
Over the next six months, Siemens will construct 1000 piles up to 24 metres long that will be drilled into the ground as the foundations for the platform.
Both of the on and offshore HVDC converter platforms will be developed, built, delivered and installed by Dragados Offshore in partnership with Siemens, which is designing and supplying the HVDC equipment for the substations.
Siemens is also responsible for development of the onshore station. Cables will be delivered by Nexans.
The DolWin6 offshore converter platform will transform AC power from wind turbines via 155kV high voltage cables to 32kV HVDC.
The power will then be exported to the onshore converter station where the power will be converted back to AC and connected to the grid.
The platform will be bridge-linked to the existing DolWin Beta platform.
The DolWin6 grid connection is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.