Hitachi Energy has won an order to provide two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems to transmit power from the 2850MW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, located more than 120 km off the UK east coast.
Hitachi Energy is supplying four HVDC converter stations, which convert AC power to DC for transmission in the subsea cables, then reconvert it to AC for integration into the onshore grid.
Two of the converter stations will be installed on offshore platforms and two at mainland grid connections.
The overall HVDC system, including the offshore platform, is delivered in partnership with Aibel.
Hitachi Energy will supply two HVDC Light converter systems, while Aibel will deliver two HVDC offshore converter platforms.
Aibel has contracted Heerema to transport and install two offshore converter stations (OCS) for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm.
Heerema previously completed the installation of Ørsted’s Hornsea 2 offshore substations in 2021.
The work will include transporting and installing the two OCS jackets, eight skirt piles, and the two OCS topsides.
Heerema will perform offshore lifting of the jackets onto the seabed before installing the piles to ensure fixation to the seabed. After executing the jacket installation, the OCS will be completed by installing the topsides onto the jackets.
“Offshore wind is a critical part of the clean energy transition and our HVDC technology is vital for effective transmission to the mainland power grid,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business.
“To address the rapidly growing offshore market, partnerships and collaboration are key to deliver at the speed and scale required to reach our decarbonization and energy security goals.”
Patrick Harnett, Vice President Programme UK at Ørsted, said: “Together with Hitachi Energy, we are demonstrating that renewables like offshore wind are a huge part of the world’s sustainability journey. Hornsea 3 will not just provide low cost, clean energy for millions of homes in the UK, it will also deliver thousands of high quality jobs and billions of pounds of investment in the offshore wind supply chain in the UK and beyond.”