ABB has installed the world’s highest-voltage offshore converter station in the North Sea. Alternating current electricity generated in three wind farms off the coast of Germany will be converted on the platform into high-voltage direct current (HVDC) for transmission to the mainland.
The 320-kV converter station has an 800 MW power transmission capacity making it the world's most powerful installation of its kind.
In a three-day operation, the 9300-metric-ton platform (topside) including the converter station was transported offshore by barge around 75 km off the German coast. It was then lifted by the world's largest crane vessel Thialf and positioned on top of the already installed jacket.
ABB was awarded the turnkey responsibility for system engineering, design, supply and installation of the offshore wind connection by TenneT, a leading European transmission system operator. The project scope includes the offshore converter station, the sea and land cable systems, and the onshore converter station.The system features the latest generation of ABB power semiconductors, with increased performance that ensures higher availability and lower losses.
The DolWin 1 offshore wind connection is expected to avoid 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year by replacing fossil-fuel based generation.
