Dogger Bank Wind Farms which is run by SSE Renewables and Equinor has unveiled Aibel and ABB as suppliers of its offshore converter platform and HVDC power transmission system.
This will mark the first-ever UK use of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology which has a smaller environmental footprint and will connect the wind farms to 4.5 million homes.
The 3.6GW Dogger Bank offshore wind farm comprises three 1.2GW projects in the North Sea, approximately 130km from the UK’s Yorkshire Coast.
Each project will have a single HVDC transmission link connection between the wind turbine arrays and the onshore transmission network. ABB will provide the HVDC converter systems at either end of each link, with Aibel providing the associated offshore platforms.
The HVDC electrical grid system will provide efficient and stable transmission from the wind farm to the UK transmission network, as well as higher control capabilities.
Aibel’s converter platforms will have a lean design, with a steel jacket structure and no living quarter or helideck. The platforms will be normally unmanned, operated from shore and accessed only by a Service Operations Vessel.
Paul Cooley, director of capital projects at SSE Renewables, said: “Dogger Bank is truly a world-leading project, pushing new boundaries in the provision of ground-breaking technology to deliver low-carbon energy generation to help achieve the UK’s net-zero ambition by 2050. The appointment of Aibel and ABB as project partners will ensure that the latest grid solution technology is deployed to support our successful project delivery.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farms is a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor which was recently successful in the latest Contracts for Difference (CfDs) allocation round, the UK Government’s auction for renewable power.
SSE Renewables will lead the development and construction phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farms and Equinor will lead on operations once completed.
Dogger Bank will provide enough clean, low-carbon energy to power over 4.5 million homes annually, equivalent to around 5% of the UK’s estimated electricity generation.
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