Dogger Bank Wind Farm, set to become the world's largest offshore wind farm, has reached a new milestone with the installation of its second unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) platform. The installation was carried out by Saipem using the Saipem 7000 vessel and marks a significant step forward for the massive wind energy project.

The second of three HVDC platforms, each supplied by Aibel, was installed 130 km from the UK coastline at Dogger Bank B. The platform is equipped with a Hitachi Energy HVDC system, enabling efficient power transmission from the 95 offshore wind turbines at Dogger Bank B. The system converts 1.2 GW of AC power to DC for transmission to an onshore converter station near Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire.

The first platform was installed at Dogger Bank A in April 2023, marking the first use of this technology in the UK's offshore wind industry. The platforms will be controlled from shore and feature a lean design, offering a 70% weight reduction per MW compared to previous designs.

Aibel's CEO and President Mads Andersen emphasized the lasting impact of the project on the industry, praising the collaboration between industry leaders such as SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn. Andreas Berthou, Head of HVDC at Hitachi Energy, highlighted the importance of the project in advancing the clean energy transition in the UK.

Saipem played a crucial role in the installation, demonstrating its expertise in supporting offshore wind farm development. The platform utilizes a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure designed and fabricated by Saipem in water depths of around 28 meters. Saipem's COO Gianalberto Secchi expressed pride in contributing to the success of the Dogger Bank project, affirming the company's leadership in the offshore wind industry.

Source: sserenewables.com