50Hertz Pioneers Baltic Sea’s First 2 GW Offshore Grid Connection with GE Vernova and Drydocks World

50Hertz Pioneers Baltic Sea’s First 2 GW Offshore Grid Connection with GE Vernova and Drydocks World

(IN BRIEF) 50Hertz has partnered with GE Vernova and Drydocks World to deliver the Ostwind 4 offshore grid connection, the first in the Baltic Sea to use 2 GW/525 kV direct current (DC) technology. The project will connect an offshore wind farm near Rügen, Germany, to the mainland via a 110-kilometer subsea cable and a new onshore substation. GE Vernova will manufacture high-tech components and build the onshore converter, while Drydocks World will construct and install the offshore platform. The project underscores 50Hertz’s commitment to renewable energy and cross-border collaboration to maximize offshore wind energy potential in the Baltic Sea.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERLIN, 16-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Transmission system operator 50Hertz has awarded a major contract to the GE Vernova and Drydocks World consortium for the development of the Ostwind 4 offshore grid connection. This groundbreaking project will connect an offshore wind farm northeast of the German island of Rügen to the mainland, using cutting-edge 2 GW/525 kV direct current (DC) technology—a first for the Baltic Sea.

The consortium will handle the engineering, procurement, construction, transport, and installation of offshore and onshore converter systems. GE Vernova will manufacture high-tech components at its European facilities and construct the onshore converter, which will be housed in a dedicated hall. Meanwhile, Drydocks World will fabricate the offshore platform’s topside and substructure, anchoring the converter to the seabed.

The Ostwind 4 project involves a 110-kilometer subsea cable running from the offshore converter through the Greifswald Bodden to Lubmin, where a four-kilometer underground cable will connect to a new substation in Brünzow. At this substation, direct current will be converted into alternating current and integrated into 50Hertz’s extra-high-voltage grid. Danish company NKT was awarded the cable contract in 2023.

Advancing Renewable Energy in the Baltic Sea
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz, emphasized the project’s significance: “With Ostwind 4, we are breaking new ground by deploying 2 GW/525 kV technology in the Baltic Sea. This is a crucial step toward maximizing the potential of offshore wind energy in this region. Cross-border collaboration and regulatory alignment are key to achieving this vision, enabling us to connect offshore wind farms in other EU waters to Germany’s grid.”

Collaborating for Innovation and Sustainability
Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification Business, highlighted the importance of the project: “Ostwind 4 is a vital milestone for electrification and decarbonization. Using our advanced HVDC technology, we are proud to support Germany’s renewable energy ambitions and set new standards for resilient and sustainable grid infrastructure.”

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, parent company of Drydocks World, added: “This project underscores our commitment to advancing clean energy transitions and sustainable infrastructure. We are honored to contribute our technical expertise to this transformative initiative, reflecting our broader mission to drive innovation and economic growth in the energy sector.”

The Ostwind 4 project reflects 50Hertz’s leadership in renewable energy innovation and its commitment to building robust infrastructure that supports Germany’s energy transition and European energy security. Completion of the project will mark a significant step toward decarbonizing the region’s energy supply and harnessing the full potential of offshore wind in the Baltic Sea.

About 50Hertz.
50Hertz operates the electricity transmission system in the north and east of Germany, which it expands as needed for the energy transition. Our extra high voltage grid has an electrical circuit length of more than 10,000 kilometres, or the distance between Berlin and Rio de Janeiro. The 50Hertz control area covers Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia, as well as the city states of Berlin and Hamburg. Within these regions, 50Hertz and its more than 2.100 employees ensure that 18 million people are supplied with electricity around the clock. 50Hertz is a forerunner in the field of secure integration of renewable energy. In our grid area, we want to integrate 100 percent renewable energies securely into the grid and system by 2032 – calculated over the year. The shareholders of 50Hertz are the Belgian holding Elia Group (80 percent), which is listed on the stock exchange, and the KfW bank group with 20 percent. As a European TSO, 50Hertz is a member of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E).

Media Contact:

Volker Gustedt
Press officer
Tel: +49 30 5150 2878
Mob: +49 151 5537 7634
volker.gustedt@50hertz.com

SOURCE: 50Hertz