Vinci and Siemens win €7bn contract for three North Sea wind farm energy converter platforms

A converter platform of the type the consortium will build in the North Sea (Image: Siemens Energy)

A consortium between Vinci’s Dragados Offshore subsidiary and Siemens Energy has won a €7 billion (US$7.7 billion) contract to design, build and install three offshore wind farm energy converter platforms in the North Sea.

The platforms will collect the alternating current (AC) generated by several wind farms and convert it into high-voltage direct current (HVDC) which will then be converted back into AC at onshore stations in the German towns of Wilhelmshaven and Heide.

The project is part of Germany’s Energy Transition Plan, which calls for the construction of a major offshore wind power generation network.

Each platform will weigh around 34,000 tonnes and will have a transmission capacity of two gigawatts.

Siemens Energy will manufacture the main electrical components, such as switchgears, transformers and converter technologies, at its factories in Europe.

Dragados Offshore is responsible for the construction and offshore installation of the platforms.

Tim Holt, member of the Siemens Energy executive board said, “In the global race against climate change, grid expansion must be able to keep pace with the accelerated expansion targets for renewable energies. Shorter contracting processes, large-scale tenders and standardization of solutions show how grid operators and manufacturers are already pulling together to get green energy to consumers faster.

“However, in order for the industry to continue ramping up capacity, all available levers must now be pulled at the policy level as well - from raw material and skilled labour strategies to further streamlining permitting processes at all levels.”