The first 189-mile (304km) phase of innovative offshore electricity transmission project, Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC) will be designed and built by Bechtel and Alstom, it was announced today.
Both companies are giants in their fields, with Bechtel a leader in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work, and Alstom, a high-profile player in the international power sector.
Having confirmed just yesterday that the first 3GW phase of the AWC will run off the cost and run the length of the US state of New Jersey - and begin being constructed in 2016 - AWC today announced it has appointed Bechtel as EPC contractor and Alstom as high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technical advisor.
"Bechtel and Alstom are global leaders in the design and execution of complex power projects and both have successfully completed projects across the globe," said Robert Mitchell, AWC chief executive, commenting on the contract decisions.
The aim of the AWC is provide electricity transmission for offshore wind farms expected to be built off the USA's windy east coast.
Alstom is already active in the European offshore wind market, including in the design and construction of offshore electricity substations and in turbine manufacture. It supplied substations for the UK's Robin Rigg offshore wind farm and has won the contract for EnBW's Baltic 2 project. More than 200 units of Alstom's 6MW Haliade offshore-specific turbine are due to be deployed at three French offshore wind farms with a planned combined capacity of 1.5GW, and last month Alstom announced that two Haliade turbines will be installed in the USA, at a demonstration project off Virginia Beach.
Bechtel Power's renewables division is keen to win EPC contracts from offshore wind developers in the UK and Germany as well as its home market of the USA. Bechtel has an informal partnership in the European offshore wind market with marine engineering specialist, Subsea 7. Earlier this month, Subsea 7 announced it was consolidating its offshore wind activities with established player, Seaway Heavy Lifting.
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