The Veja Mate and Global Tech 1 offshore wind farms, which will have a combined power generating capacity of as much as 800 megawatts (MW), will be connected to the grid via a submarine cable link carrying high-voltage direct current (HVDC).
”The BorWin 2 turnkey offshore grid connection is a challenging project where we can apply our broad-based experience and know-how in this field,” said Dr. Udo Niehage, CEO of the Power Transmission Division of Siemens Energy. The Veja Mate and Global Tech 1 wind farms are located approximately 125 kilometres offshore – northwest of the island of Borkum – and are designed to generate as much as 800 MW of renewable power.
Siemens will supply an offshore platform including all required technology for the grid connection. On this platform the voltage level will be stepped up from 155 kilovolts (kV) to 300 kV alternating current (AC) and then converted to direct current (DC) at the same voltage level. The Siemens Wind Power Offshore Substation (WIPOS) will be designed as a floating, self-lifting platform. This platform will be towed by tugs to its destination at sea, where the water is about 40 meters deep. The wind power will be transported via submarine and land cable to Diele near Papenburg, where an onshore substation will reconvert it from DC to AC for further transmission and distribution within the grid. The transmission link is expected to begin operation in 2013.
The use of HVDC technology reduces transmission losses. Cable connections of more than 80 kilometers require HVDC as the power transport technology because a major portion of the energy would be lost with an AC connection of that length and rating.
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