DolWin2 HVDC Light - Grid connection of offshore wind. Map of DolWin2 HVDC Light transmission in the North Sea in Germany. This is ABB's third offshore wind connection. Courtesy of ABB press picture

Zurich, Switzerland - August 2, 2011

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $1 billion from the Dutch-German transmission grid operator TenneT to supply a power link connecting offshore North Sea wind farms to the German mainland grid.

This is the largest power transmission order in ABB's history.

DolWin2 HVDC Light - Grid connection of offshore wind. The HVDC Light converter station on the BorWin alpha platform with some wind turbines. BorWin1 was the world's first grid connection of an offshore wind farm. DolWin2 will be ABB's third such grid connection. Photo taken in July 2010. Courtesy of ABB press picture

It will deploy the world’s largest offshore HVDC (high-voltage direct current) system with a rating of over 900 megawatts (MW), keeping electrical losses to less than 1 percent per converter station.

The completed link will be capable of supplying more than 1.5 million households with clean wind-generated electricity.

ABB will design, engineer, supply and install the offshore platform, the offshore and onshore converter stations and the land and sea cable systems.

DolWin2 HVDC Light - Grid connection of offshore wind. Testing of HVDC Light valves for BorWin1, grid connection of remote offshore wind farm north of Germany in the North Sea. Courtesy of ABB press picture

ABB's innovative and environmentally friendly HVDC Light transmission technology will transport power from the 400 MW Gode Wind II and other wind farms to an offshore HVDC converter station, which will transmit the electricity to the onshore HVDC station at Dörpen on the German coast via 135 kilometers of underwater and underground cables.

A converter station here will feed electricity into the mainland grid.

Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division, talks about the recent $1 billion order to connect offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the German grid and the potential of renewable energy. August 10, 2011. Courtesy of ABB press media

“Offshore wind power is emerging as a major source of large-scale renewable energy in Europe to help meet emission targets and lower environmental impact,” said Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power Systems division.
”ABB is uniquely positioned with in-house manufacturing capability of converter stations, cables and semiconductors, the essential components of HVDC systems, and has invested significantly in these technologies."

DolWin2 HVDC Light - Grid connection of offshore wind. Departure by helicopter from the BorWin alpha platform in the North Sea. Picture taken in July 2010 by Matthias Ernert. Courtesy of ABB press picture

ABB’s HVDC Light transmission technology offers environmental benefits such as neutral electromagnetic fields and compact converter stations.
It is ideal for connecting remote offshore wind farms to mainland networks and overcoming distance limitations and grid constraints, while ensuring minimal electrical losses and efficient performance.

The 320-kilovolt cable voltage capacity in this latest system is the highest level used for HVDC transmission with extruded cables.

Scheduled to be operational in 2015, this offshore network will help to avoid more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by replacing fossil-fuel based generation.

Germany's installed wind power capacity of over 27 gigawatts presently meets about eight percent of its electricity requirements.
Plans are to double that by 2020.

This is the third offshore wind connection order for ABB in Germany, following the 800 MW Dolwin1 link awarded last year and previously the BorWin1 project.

ABB provides a wide range of products, systems and services that enable the efficient generation and integration of renewable wind energy into the grid and its reliable transmission and distribution.

ABB ( www.abb.com ) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact.

The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people.


DolWin2


This third offshore wind connection to be delivered by ABB will avoid more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by replacing fossil-fuel based generation.

The German company TenneT Offshore GmbH, has awarded a contract to ABB to supply an 900 MW transmission link that will connect offshore wind farms located in the cluster DolWin (Gode Wind II wind farm, 400 MW, and other wind farms) in the North Sea to the German grid.

Shoreham HVDC Light converter station overview. Shoreham, NY, USA. HVDC Light® is a state-of-the-art power system designed to transmit power underground and under water, also over long distances. It offers numerous environmental benefits, including “invisible” power lines, neutral electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables and compact converter stations. HVDC Light® was introduced in 1997. A number of underground and sumarine transmissions up to 400 MW are in commercial operation and more are being built. The first commercial project delivery - Gotland HVDC Light - turned 10 years in November 2009. Courtesy of ABB press picture

The wind farms will be connected with AC cables to the HVDC converter station based on an offshore platform situated in the North Sea and further through 45 km of DC sea cable and 90 km of land cable to the HVDC onshore station at the grid connection point at Dörpen-West.

The transmission system has a total capacity of 900 MW at ±320 kV, which today is the world's largest offshore HVDC system.

The Näs HVDC Light Converter station. Gotland, a Swedish island in the Baltic Sea. HVDC Light® was introduced in 1997. A number of underground and sumarine transmissions up to 400 MW are in commercial operation and more are being built. The first commercial project delivery - Gotland HVDC Light - turned 10 years in November 2009. Courtesy of ABB press picture

The HVDC Light system that will be used offers numerous environmental benefits, such as electrical losses of less than 1 percent per converter station, neutral electromagnetic fields, and compact converter stations.
It is ideal for connecting remote wind farms to mainland networks without distance limitations or constraints on the grid.

ABB is responsible for system engineering including design, supply and installation of the offshore converter (including the platform), sea and land cable systems and the onshore converter station.

The land cables will be laid underground, thus minimizing environmental impact.


Main data

Commissioning year: 2015

Power rating: 900 MW

No of circuits: 1

AC Voltage: 155 kV (Platform DolWin beta), 380 kV (Dörpen-West)

DC Voltage: ±320 kV

Length of DC submarine cable: 2 x 45 km

Length of DC underground cable: 2 x 90 km

Main reason for choosing HVDC Light: Length of land and sea cables


For more information please contact:

Thomas Schmidt, Antonio Ligi
ABB Corporate Communications
Zurich, Switzerland
Phone: +41 43 317 65 68
media.relations@ch.abb.com  


Source: ABB

http://www.abb.com  



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