The first multi-million pound contracts have been signed to supply critical infrastructure to Hornsea Three offshore wind farm since the record low strike price was secured.
Hitachi Energy and Aibel will provide high-voltage direct current transmission systems and converter platforms for Orsted’s emerging world-leader - as the scale continues to increase in the zone that is home to the last two record breakers.
Located 160m off the Humber in the near North Sea, the 2.85 GW Hornsea Three will be the furthest of the cluster offshore, leading to a new approach.
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Swiss-based Hitachi’s HVDC Light system will be used, designed to transmit power more efficiently under water over long distances, having the advantage of uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.
Norwegian-headquartered Aibel will work alongside Hitachi to provide the two offshore converter platforms located in the North Sea. These platforms will be unmanned, operated from shore and accessed for maintenance by service operation vessel or helicopter.
The platforms are described as having a lean design, with a steel jacket structure. Hitachi will install two more units at onshore grid connections.
Patrick Harnett, vice president for UK programmes at Orsted, said: “Hornsea Three is a game-changing renewable energy project in terms of both size and cost. This is the first time we have used an HVDC transmission system in the Hornsea zone and we are very excited to continue working with our partners in the supply chain to develop this solution further.
“Throughout development of Hornsea Three, we have listened carefully to local feedback around the transmission technology. HVDC technology does not require a booster station onshore or offshore and we anticipate needing a narrower working and land rights strip. We will continue to engage with the local community as we progress towards a final investment decision and the start of construction.”
Contracts are subject to the decision, potentially coming from Copenhagen before the end of the year. Mr Harnett added: “We are very proud to be a part of the ongoing offshore wind development in the region and look forward to working with Hitachi Energy and Aibel on this world-leading project.”
Unlike Hornsea One and Hornsea Two, hitting landfall on the Lincolnshire coast, Hornsea Three will connect to the grid in Norfolk. Hitachi will have supported Orsted on all, with grid connection on the first two ahead of this HVDC deployment.
Niklas Persson, managing director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business, said: “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. To address the rapidly growing offshore market, partnerships and collaboration are key to deliver at the speed and scale required to reach our decarbonisation and energy security goals.”
Aibel said each platform repreents a "major contract". President and chief executive, Mads Andersen, said: "We are proud and honoured to enter into a new collaboration with Ørsted - a relationship that has matured over the last 36 months. With this award, we once again consolidate our position as a leading supplier of HVDC solutions in the European offshore wind segment."
Hornsea Three will take the Grimsby-anchored zone - with all operations and maintenance performed from the town’s Royal Dock - beyond 5GW, with Hornsea Four also being brought forward.
It is understood Siemens Gamesa is the preferred turbine, having been used at all Orsted's East Coast cluster farms so far, bringing further orders for blades and potential pre-assembly to Hull, with SeAH to provide monopiles. The South Korean steel giant controversially moved manufacturing from the Humber to Teesside during the planning process, diverting 750 jobs.
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