GE Renewable Energy and Sembcorp Marine have been chosen by RWE as preferred bidders for the transmission system for the 1400MW Sofia offshore wind project, being built 195km off the UK coast.
GE Renewable Energy’s grid solutions division and Sembcorp Marine will supply the high voltage direct current (HVDC) system, located on Dogger Bank, the shallow area of the central North Sea.
The partners are starting early design works in July, with the full contract subject to the project’s final investment decision, due in the first quarter of 2021.
RWE Renewables global offshore wind chief operating officer Sven Utermohlen said: “We are keen to support the growth of both onshore and offshore wind energy in UK, one of our core markets in Europe.
“The choice of GE’s grid solutions and Sembcorp Marine for the supply of the electrical system is an important statement of our commitment to grow our renewables portfolio in the UK and reflects our ambition to strive for continuous innovation in the development, construction and operation of our offshore wind farms.”
As the consortium leader, GE will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of two HVDC converter stations capable of transmitting 1400MW of power at 320kV.
It will be the most powerful offshore converter station fabricated to date and will also be the most remote, as it will be built 220km from shore.
Sembcorp Marine will build and install the offshore converter platform, comprising 10,000 tonne topside attached to a jacket foundation piled into the seabed.
The onshore converter station will convert the electricity generated by the wind farm to 400kV, before it enters the UK grid.
The HVDC transmission system represents Sofia’s second largest contract and will include the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the offshore converter platform and the onshore converter station, including all ancillary equipment.
Construction of the wind farm is due to begin onshore at its Teesside converter station site early next year, with offshore construction expected to get underway in 2023.
The HVDC transmission system news follows the announcement that Sofia has signed a preferred supplier agreement with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy for 100 of its SG 14-222 DD offshore wind turbines.