Siemens Successfully Installs Third HVDC Platform in the North Sea for TenneT


Siemens successfully installs third HVDC platform in the North Sea for TenneT

•Â Â Â  Major milestone for German offshore grid expansion

•Â Â Â  Successive commissioning of first HVDC offshore grid connections planned between second half of 2014 and first half of 2015



Siemens has completed installation of the offshore platform for the direct-current connection HelWin2. Working under contract from the German-Dutch grid operator TenneT, Siemens has thus achieved a decisive milestone of the German grid connection projects. "We have now installed three high-tech platforms for TenneT in the North Sea. The HelWin2 project is now in the homestretch to begin operation in the coming year," says Jan Mrosik, CEO of the Power Transmission and Smart Grid Divisions of Siemens AG. "We have achieved one more major interim milestone, and are step by step accomplishing the German government's offshore expansion goals", says Lex Hartman, member of TenneT's executive board.



The newly installed HelWin2 platform lies 35 km north of the island after which it was named, Heligoland, directly adjacent to the HelWin1 platform Siemens successfully erected earlier in August 2013. Earlier this year in April Siemens already erected the BorWin2 platform off the coast of Borkum.



All told, Siemens builds five North Sea grid connections for TenneT. The first four are to begin commercial operation successively over the second half of 2014 and the first half of 2015, and in sum total provide transmission capacity of over 2.9 gigawatts. The fifth connection recently ordered this year, BorWin3, is to be ready for operation in 2019.



Using the Siemens technology installed on the platforms, the alternating current power generated by the wind turbines is transformed into direct current for efficient transmission to the mainland. At the associated land-based stations, the electricity generated by the connected wind farms is converted back into the alternating current power required for feeding into the transmission grid. Thanks to Siemens' low-loss high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, transmission losses are less than four percent. The platforms are designed to operate for decades in the rough North Sea conditions, and are fully automated.



The HelWin2 platform was constructed and installed by Heerema. The marine and land-based cabling were supplied and laid by the cable specialist Prysmian Group.



HVDC solutions and the associated service activities are part of Siemens' Environmental Portfolio. Around 43 percent of the company's revenues are generated by green products and solutions. That makes Siemens one of the world's leading providers of eco-friendly technology.



This press release and related press photos and datasheets on offshore platforms are available along with other information at: www.siemens.com/press/x-win



Contact for journalists:

Torsten Wolf, phone: +49 9131 18-82532

E-mail: torsten.tw.wolf@siemens.com

Follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/siemens_press



The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a broad spectrum of products, services and solutions for power generation in thermal power plants and using renewables, power transmission in grids and for the extraction, processing and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2013 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of EUR26.6 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR28.8 billion and posted a profit of approximately EUR2 billion. On September 30, 2013, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 83,500. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/energy.



Siemens AG

Wittelsbacherplatz 2, 80333 Munich, Germany

Communications and Government Affairs

Head: Stephan Heimbach 

Energy Sector

Power Transmission Division

Freyeslebenstr. 1, 91058 Erlangen, Germany



Reference number: EPT201407.056




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