SeaRenergy installs BorWin beta substation

GERMANY: The BorWin beta substation has been installed in the German North Sea by offshore wind contractors SeaRenergy.

SeaRenergy has installed the substation in the North Sea

The topside has been positioned on the subsea structure that was installed last year in 40-metre waters. The station is located 125 kilometres from the German coast.

Eight tugs were used to position the 12,000-tonne topside, after which it was hydraulically lifted 22 metres above the water surface and installed on the jacket.

BorWin beta will serve the 400MW Veja Mate and 400MW Global Tech 1 projects. The substation will convert the alternating current generated by the wind farms to direct current to minimise the loss of power during transportation to the shore.

The facility was built by Siemens and is the second largest of the orders that it has received from German grid operator Tennet for substations in the North Sea.

Global Tech 1 is due to be fully completed by the end of the summer. However, it is not due to be connected to the BorWin beta grid connection until early 2015.