World's first unmanned HDVC substation installed at Dogger Bank

World’s first unmanned HDVC substation installed at Dogger Bank

Photo: Heerema Marine Contractors

Heerema’s installation of the world’s first unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore substation means the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, has ticked off another milestone. 

The substation is the first of three platforms, supplied by Aibel, to be installed at Dogger Bank, which is being constructed in three 1.2GW phases known as A, B and C.

The Dogger Bank A platform measures 65 x 36 metres across and 39 metres high and sits on a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure which is fixed to the seabed, at a water depth of around 28 metres. Approximately 146 km from the nearest point of land at Flamborough Head, near Bridlington in East Riding of Yorkshire, the platform installation was completed by Heeremna Marine Contractor’s heavy-lift behemoth Thialf on behalf of the principal contractor Saipem.

Unmanned HDVC platform

The innovative offshore platform has a lean design and is the first unmanned HVDC platform which will be operated from shore and accessed only by a Service Operations Vessel. The platform will receive 1.2GW of AC power from Dogger Bank A’s 95 offshore wind turbines and convert it to DC, which will then be sent ashore to an onshore convertor station near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Fitted with Hitachi Energy’s latest generation HVDC converter technology, Dogger Bank will be the first offshore wind project in the UK to use this technology to transmit the electricity produced back to shore, ensuring that the electricity is transmitted efficiently over long distances while minimising losses.

Olly Cass, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said, “The platform will be controlled from shore and by removing the need for personnel to stay on the platform meant it has been possible to eliminate elements such as the living quarters, helideck and sewage systems, resulting in a 70 per cent reduction in weight (per megawatt) of the topside compared to previous platforms installed, and cost savings of hundreds of millions of pounds.”

“Teams continue to make good progress with the installation of turbine foundations and later in Q2 specialist cable installation and support vessels will start to install the inter-array network of cables that will connect the turbines to the offshore platform to enable transmission of first power in the summer,” Cass adds.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn, is set to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm consisting of 277 wind turbines. The wind farm will be capable of generating 3.6GW of renewable energy which is enough clean and sustainable electricity to power more than 6 million homes.

Author: Adnan Bajic

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World’s first unmanned HDVC substation installed at Dogger Bank | Project Cargo Journal
World's first unmanned HDVC substation installed at Dogger Bank

World’s first unmanned HDVC substation installed at Dogger Bank

Photo: Heerema Marine Contractors

Heerema’s installation of the world’s first unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore substation means the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, has ticked off another milestone. 

The substation is the first of three platforms, supplied by Aibel, to be installed at Dogger Bank, which is being constructed in three 1.2GW phases known as A, B and C.

The Dogger Bank A platform measures 65 x 36 metres across and 39 metres high and sits on a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure which is fixed to the seabed, at a water depth of around 28 metres. Approximately 146 km from the nearest point of land at Flamborough Head, near Bridlington in East Riding of Yorkshire, the platform installation was completed by Heeremna Marine Contractor’s heavy-lift behemoth Thialf on behalf of the principal contractor Saipem.

Unmanned HDVC platform

The innovative offshore platform has a lean design and is the first unmanned HVDC platform which will be operated from shore and accessed only by a Service Operations Vessel. The platform will receive 1.2GW of AC power from Dogger Bank A’s 95 offshore wind turbines and convert it to DC, which will then be sent ashore to an onshore convertor station near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.

Fitted with Hitachi Energy’s latest generation HVDC converter technology, Dogger Bank will be the first offshore wind project in the UK to use this technology to transmit the electricity produced back to shore, ensuring that the electricity is transmitted efficiently over long distances while minimising losses.

Olly Cass, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said, “The platform will be controlled from shore and by removing the need for personnel to stay on the platform meant it has been possible to eliminate elements such as the living quarters, helideck and sewage systems, resulting in a 70 per cent reduction in weight (per megawatt) of the topside compared to previous platforms installed, and cost savings of hundreds of millions of pounds.”

“Teams continue to make good progress with the installation of turbine foundations and later in Q2 specialist cable installation and support vessels will start to install the inter-array network of cables that will connect the turbines to the offshore platform to enable transmission of first power in the summer,” Cass adds.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm, a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn, is set to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm consisting of 277 wind turbines. The wind farm will be capable of generating 3.6GW of renewable energy which is enough clean and sustainable electricity to power more than 6 million homes.

Author: Adnan Bajic

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