“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

A Danish engineering consultancy, ISC, has been awarded the first framework contract for the design of multiple offshore wind substations.

In what is a first for the offshore wind industry, Dong Energy has signed a deal with ISC to design substations for all five of its planned German offshore wind projects, “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Offshore understands. These are: Borkum Riffgrund 2, Borkum Riffgrund West 1 and the newly-acquired Gode Wind I, II and III.

"It’s a giant step forward in terms of achieving our wish to implement a mass-production mentality," said Dong’s engineering manager for offshore platforms, Henrik Hansen. He added that the thinking behind the framework contract was that it would help reduce the cost of energy.

The terms of the deal include a requirement that ISC make a team available to Dong at a month’s notice.

ISC has already designed several offshore substations for Dong offshore wind projects, including those for Gunfleet Sands, Walney 1 and 2, West of Duddon Sands and Borkum Riffgrund 1.

Commenting on its success in winning the deal, ISC’s senior director for offshore, Anders Thomsen, said: "In the same way that Dong Energy is world leader within offshore wind turbines, we’re world leaders within offshore substations."