The Netherlands: HFG to Construct HelWin2 Offshore HVDC Platform

On 4 June 2012 Heerema Fabrication Group in the Netherlands secured a contract for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) of an HVDC offshore platform for Siemens in Germany on behalf of grid operator TenneT.

The contract consists of an offshore platform which will be equipped with Siemens’ High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology allowing a low-loss transmission of wind power generated in the German North Sea.

The topsides will be built at HFG’s Zwijndrecht yard and the jacket and bridge at the Vlissingen yard in the Netherlands. Fabrication will start in November 2012 and is scheduled for completion mid 2014. Installation by HFG’s sister company Heerema Marine Contractors is planned in the 3rd quarter of 2014. The grid connection is scheduled to be operational by spring 2015.

The HelWin2 platform will be located close to Heligoland, 85 kilometers northwest of the HVDC cable’s landing point in Büsum, Germany in 24 meters waterdepth on the German Bight. The HelWin2 offshore HVDC platform will be the third offshore grid connection in the eastern North Sea built by Heerema Fabrication Group. The first offshore HVDC platform, BorWin1 (400 MW), built by HFG has been delivered in 2009. The second one, DolWin1 (900 MW), currently under construction at HFG’s Zwijndrecht yard, will be delivered in August 2012. The HelWin2 offshore converter station will have a transmission capacity of 690 MW, enough to power over 500,000 homes in Germany.

Tino Vinkesteijn, Chief Commercial Officer Heerema Fabrication Group, says: “This award demonstrates the offshore wind industry’s confidence in our expertise and capabilities to successfully complete EPCI projects in the harsh North Sea environment. The German offshore wind industry is in need for reliable solutions to ensure timely progress of this renewable power source to meet the increase of renewables output set by the German government by 2020.”

Bert van Dijk, Vice President Business Development & Sales Heerema Fabrication Group, adds: “Our know-how and experience of more than 60 years in the fabrication and installation of platforms at sea are fundamental to these contract awards, which will contribute to the growth of the offshore wind industry in Europe.”

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Offshore WIND staff, June 13, 2012; Image: heerema