Wind farm off port bow! Innovative technology will connect offshore farm to grid
November 2007
News
Power and automation technology group ABB has won an order worth more than $400 million from the German utility E.ON Netz GmbH to supply the power equipment that will connect the world's largest offshore wind farm to the German grid.
ABB will connect the 400-megawatt (MW) Borkum-2 park using its innovative and environmentally friendly HVDC Light (high-voltage direct current) transmission technology, which gives utilities complete control over the power supply and increases grid stability. The wind farm will be located more than 100 km off the German coast in the North Sea and ABB claim that this will be the most remote wind farm in the world.
Map showing offshore location of wind farm
"Linking renewable sources of power to the grid can be challenging due to environmental conditions and the distance involved," said Peter Leupp, head of ABB's Power Systems division. "This project highlights how renewable power sources can be integrated to help combat climate change."
Scheduled to be operational in September 2009, the wind farm is expected to avoid CO2 emissions of 1,5 million tons per year by replacing fossil-fuel generation. Germany currently uses wind for about 7% of its electricity requirements and expects to double the share of wind energy by 2020.
ABB is responsible for system engineering including design, supply and installation of the offshore converter, sea and land cable systems and the onshore converter. Most of the transmission system provided by ABB will be laid underwater and underground, thus minimising environmental impact.
HVDC Light offers numerous other environmental benefits, such as neutral electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables and compact converter stations, and is ideal for connecting remote wind farms to mainland networks without distance limitations or constraints on the grid.
ABB is the world's largest supplier of electrical products and services to wind turbine manufacturers. The Group's wind power business grew on average by more than 50% a year over the last three years and in 2006 generated revenues of more than $500 million.
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