ABB has won orders worth over $150 million from Ørsted to supply a range of technologies that will help integrate and transmit renewable energy from Hornsea Project Two, slated to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Hornsea Two is a 1.4 GW project located about 100 kilometers from the Yorkshire, England, coast in the North Sea. Upon completion, it will be able to deliver enough clean power to meet the needs of more than 1.3 million homes annually.
ABB will supply its static var compensation light technology with ABB Ability MACH control systems; high-voltage, gas-insulated switchgear; transformers; reactors; and harmonic filters. ABB will also be responsible for the engineering, supply, project management and commissioning of the digital control and protection systems for the onshore substation and the two offshore platform substations.
“We are delighted to partner with Ørsted for this strategic, long-term technology alliance and work towards our common goal of integrating more renewables into the grid and promoting sustainable energy solutions,” says Claudio Facchin, president of ABB’s power grids division. “Advanced technologies and ABB Ability-based digital solutions will play a key role in enhancing capacity and improving quality and reliability of electricity supplies to millions of people. This project reinforces ABB’s position as a partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
The electrical power flow from Hornsea Two will be protected and controlled by the largest static compensation (STATCOM) system ever built for an offshore wind application, according to ABB. STATCOMs help offshore wind turbines increase power transfer capability, improve power quality and enhance grid stability. The brain of the STATCOM is the ABB Ability MACH control, protection and monitoring system.
As part of the project scope, the ABB Ability-enabled MicroSCADA system will be used for monitoring the electricity network and gathering data from Relion intelligent electronic devices and remote terminal units to ensure safe and reliable grid integration system operations. Advanced mission critical technology will also be used for communication between the offshore platforms and the onshore substation.
