Hitachi Energy, Aibel to help connect Ørsted’s Hornsea 3

Danish clean energy group Ørsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED) said today it has awarded contracts for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems and converter platforms for its 2,852-MW Hornsea 3 offshore wind project in the UK.

Swiss-based Hitachi Energy will provide two HVDC systems, while Norway’s Aibel has been contracted to provide the offshore converter platforms. Ørsted said that contracts are subject to a final investment decision (FID) on Hornsea 3, which could happen as soon as the end of 2022.

The huge offshore wind project recently emerged as one of the winning projects in the fourth allocation round of the UK government’s Contract for Difference (CfD) scheme. It will be located 160 km (99 miles) off the Yorkshire coast and will be part of Ørsted’s Hornsea zone which will have an overall capacity of over 5,000 MW.

Hitachi Energy said it has partnered with Ørsted on the grid connection of Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2, but the third phase will be the first Hornsea project to use HVDC application.

Hornsea 3 will employ Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light system designed to carry power more efficiently over long submarine distances, the companies noted.

“Throughout development of Hornsea 3, we have listened carefully to local feedback around the transmission technology. HVDC technology does not require a booster station onshore or offshore and we anticipate needing a narrower working and land rights strip,” commented Patrick Harnett, vice president Programme UK at Ørsted.

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