Credit: Alex Sava

By Ritesh Gupta

Companies mentioned: Siemens, TenneT, Fugro, Dong Energy, SMart Wind, A2SEA, Gamesa, New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), Japan International Cooperation Agency, Jan De Nul Group, Independent Electricity System Operator, Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy Group

Siemens hands over North Sea grid connection to TenneT

Siemens has handed over SylWin1, the third North Sea grid connection, to the German-Dutch transmission grid operator TenneT.

The offshore platform of the SylWin1 grid connection is located around 70km west of the island of Sylt.

Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Siemens Energy Management Division, shared that post the completion of three offshore grid connections with direct-current technology - SylWin1, BorWin2 and HelWin1, the plan now is to put the fourth project, HelWin2, into commercial operation as planned in the coming weeks.

In all, Siemens has been awarded five North Sea grid connection projects by TenneT: HelWin1 (576 MW) and HelWin2 (690 MW) off of Helgoland, BorWin2 (800 MW) and BorWin3 (900 MW) off of Borkum and SylWin1 (864 MW) off of Sylt. The company shared that commissioning of this fifth grid connection is scheduled for 2019.

The three offshore wind farms DanTysk, Butendiek and Sandbank, each with a capacity of 288 MW, are linked to SylWin1.

Electricity from the three wind farms is transmitted to the mainland via the SylWin1 grid connection. DanTysk and Butendiek both consist of 80 Siemens wind turbines, each rated at 3.6 MW. Sandbank will be realised with 72 Siemens wind turbines in the 4MW class. At present, more than 100 wind turbines are already linked to the grid connection.

Fugro wraps up a major seabed investigation campaign

Fugro has completed what is being termed as one of offshore wind industry’s largest ever geotechnical campaigns. The company completed a seabed investigation campaign in preparation for Danish utility Dong Energy’s 1.2 GW Hornsea Project One project. The project is located 120km off the Yorkshire coast. It is scheduled to go into operation by 2020.

Fugro was awarded the £13 million contract last November. The geotechnical vessels (M/V Greatship Manisha and M/V Bucentaur) worked on 2,800m of seabed cone penetration testing and more than 5,000m of boreholes on all future WTG and OSS positions as part of the site investigation.

In February this year, Dong Energy acquired the remaining 66.66% ownership interest in the UK offshore wind development Hornsea Project One from its joint venture partner SMart Wind.

A2SEA finalises contract for Burbo Bank Extension

Offshore wind installation specialist A2SEA is set to play an important role in building the 258MW Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm.

The company has signed a contract with Dong Energy. A2SEA will provide its specialist purpose-built offshore installation vessel Sea Challenger to install the 32 MHI Vestas 8MW turbines.

The Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm is located next to the operational Burbo project consisting of 25 Siemens 3.6MW turbines, which A2SEA’s jack-up barge Sea Jack installed eight years ago.

Gamesa to work on 220MW project in Egypt

Gamesa is to install 110 of its G80-2.0 MW turbines at the Gulf of El Zayt wind farm. The company recently signed a contract for the turnkey construction of the project on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned during the second half of 2017.

The project was awarded by the NREA (New & Renewable Energy Authority) in Egypt. It has been allotted to the Spanish company as part of an international tender, and it will be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Gamesa will handle the supply, installation and commissioning of a total of 110 of its G80-2.0 MW turbines, starting in September this year.

The company will also handle construction of the civil engineering and electric infrastructure needed to install and operate the facility and will provide operations and maintenance services for three years.

Jan De Nul Group secures projects from Dong Energy

Jan De Nul Group has signed two contracts with Danish energy group Dong Energy to execute cable installation works for the Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm in Liverpool Bay.

One contract is for the installation of the export cables, and a second one for the installation of the infield cables. Both the installation works will take place during spring and summer 2016.

Jan De Nul Group will install and bury the 25km export cable between the offshore transformer platform and the beach as well as the 32 infield cables between the wind turbines and the offshore transformer platform, including crossing and protection of existing cables and pipelines.

The group will use its cable laying vessel Willem de Vlamingh.

The Danish company also recently allotted the export cable installation (laying and burial) for the Race Bank Offshore Windfarm to the group.

100MW project in Ontario signs PPA

The North Kent Wind, a 100 MW wind power project located in the Regional Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada, has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy Group have finalised the deal.

Construction of the project is expected to begin by the end of 2016 and it is expected to reach completion at the end of 2017.

Samsung shared that North Kent Wind is the sixth wind project of its $5 billion Green Energy Investment agreement in Ontario.

The project is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. It will employ around 200 skilled workers on-site at the peak of construction activity and create around 10 permanent jobs once operational.