Offshore Substations Surge in Europe
The surge in substation developments is being fuelled by the increased scale of offshore wind projects and their distance from shore, with projects exceeding 1GW of capacity requiring multiple substations.
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Rystad Energy to Invest US$20B in Offshore Substations
Around 137 substations will be installed offshore continental Europe this decade, requiring $20bn in total investment, according to Rystad Energy analysis.
Europe’s ambitious offshore wind goals are set to make it a hub for substation activity, driving substantial investment and innovation in the sector.
- $20 billion needed for 137 offshore substations in Europe by 2030.
- Over 120 substations to be installed between 2024 and 2030, costing $18 billion.
- Growing offshore wind projects and their distance from shore necessitate multiple substations for projects over 1GW.
- Spending expected to rise from $1.4 billion (2015-2023 average) to $8.4 billion by 2030.
Benefits are that offshore substations are ideal for projects over 200MW and more than 15 km from shore, reducing power transmission losses. They are also useful for electrifying offshore oil and gas platforms.
Technology:
- Primary systems include switchgear, transformers/converters, reactive power compensation, and earthing systems.
- Substations have a topside (main electrical system) and a foundation (supports topside structure).
- Foundations: Jackets are common; some use monopiles.
“We will see a substantial increase in spending in the offshore substation market this decade. This is linked to growing installed capacity in Europe and will be further amplified when floating wind technology takes off.
“Floating wind turbines are situated far from shore, meaning we could see the first floating substations in the early 2030s,” said Petra Manuel, senior offshore wind analyst at Rystad Energy.
Source: renews.biz
