Siemens completes BorWin2 platform install

GERMANY: Siemens has installed the HVDC converter platform at the BorWin2 offshore station in the North Sea.

by David Weston 29 April 2014

The converter is set to begin operating in 2015.

The platform has a 800MW transmission capacity and is located northwest of the island of Borkum.

BorWin2 is set to begin operating in 2015. It will serve the Veja Mate and Global Tech I projects. Both sites have a 400MW installed capacity.

It is the second converter Siemens has installed as part of the German offshore deal with Tennet after it installed a platform at the HelWin1 site in August last year.

The new platform will transform the alternating current (AC) generated by North Sea turbines into low-loss direct current (DC) for transmission to the mainland. It is then changed back to AC at an onshore converter, also supplied by Siemens, for integration into the grid.

Siemens, along with Petrofac, has also been chosen by Tennet to supply the technology for the BorWin3 grid connection.

In total, Siemens is installing five North Sea grid link-ups for Tennet: HelWin1, HelWin2, BorWin2, BorWin3 and SylWin1.