ABB announced its deal with Rampion Offshore Wind Farm to supply substations and related power infrastructure.
The size of the deal was not disclosed.
As part of the wind deal, ABB will provide power infrastructure for the offshore platform as well as the onshore substation to integrate the new wind farm into UK’s transmission grid.
Energy company E.ON, in partnership with the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB), is building the 400 MW project — situated off the Sussex coast between Worthing and Brighton. The wind farm, scheduled for completion in 2018, will include 116 turbines. The wind farm can generate electricity for 300,000 homes and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 600,000 tonnes a year.
The wind farm’s 400MW of installed electrical capacity will contribute to the UK’s target of achieving 15 percent of its total energy production from renewable sources by 2020.
Europe has around 8 GW of offshore wind power connected to the grid. UK accounts for nearly half the installed capacity and an additional 11.9 GW of offshore capacity under construction or with planning approval.
ABB will be responsible for the turnkey delivery of the onshore substation, including high-voltage air-insulated switchgear (AIS), gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), transformers and substation automation as well as control and protection systems.
The onshore substation will be equipped with four STATCOM (static compensator) units to ensure grid stability.
ABB will supply medium-voltage switchgear, power transformers and protection and control systems for the offshore platform as well as two new switchgear bays with control and protection equipment for the National Grid’s nearby substation at Bolney, receiving power from the new wind farm.
Rajani Baburajan
editor@greentechlead.com