TenneT has entered into an ‘innovation partnership’ with its suppliers to design 2GW offshore grid connection systems for the IJmuiden Ver wind area off the Netherlands.
Two 2GW links are planned for the area and so TenneT has launched the design phase with ABB Power Grids, Siemens, GE’s Grid Solutions business in the Netherlands, Consortium Global Energy Interconnection Research Institute and C-EPRI Electric Power, and Xian Electric Engineering in China.
The aim is to ensure that this “technically advanced and innovative requirement will connect seamlessly with what they can develop and manufacture”, TenneT said.
It added that given the combination of the large distance to the coast and the size of the IJmuiden Ver wind energy area, a 2GW HVDC solution based on 525kV appears to offer most economical advantages.
This “requires only one cable system per 2GW, limiting the impact on the environment and the surroundings”, Tennet said.
The five suppliers will therefore develop the 2GW 525kV HVDC solution based on criteria set by TenneT.
Specific information will be provided to Iv-Offshore & Energy, which is carrying out the front-end engineering design study on behalf of TenneT, resulting in a standardised platform design for all the HVDC solutions.
The results will also feed into plans for at least four 2GW grid links in Germany from 2029, TenneT added.