50Hertz, the transmission system operator (TSO) for eastern Germany, has awarded the Ostwind 4 project to a consortium led by GE Vernova and Drydocks World, a DP World company specializing in marine and offshore services for the renewable energy sector. The project entails designing, constructing, and commissioning a 2-GW high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) electric transmission system, the first of its kind in the German Baltic Sea, to connect offshore wind farms to the German grid. Ostwind 4 is the fourth offshore project aimed at linking wind farm areas northeast of Rügen island to the German power grid. The project will include the construction of both an offshore converter platform and an onshore converter station. This will be the first offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea to utilize 525-kV HVDC technology, which can transport more power than alternating current (AC) connections with lower losses over longer distances.
The collaboration between GE Vernova and Drydocks World will be crucial in delivering the necessary infrastructure for the seamless transmission of electricity from offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea to the German transmission grid. GE Vernova will provide advanced HVDC technology, including voltage-sourced converters (VSC), high-voltage transformers, air-core reactors, and g3 gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The project will also benefit from GE Vernova’s new HVDC Competence Center in Berlin, focused on developing cutting-edge technology to enhance grid stability and integrate more renewable energy.
Drydocks World will manage the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of the wind energy converter stations’ topsides and jacket structures. The topside will be fabricated at Drydocks World’s Dubai facility and will integrate advanced equipment designed and manufactured in Europe. This collaborative effort aims to support Germany’s transition to sustainable energy by delivering innovative offshore infrastructure that embodies engineering excellence and environmental stewardship.
The Ostwind 4 project represents a significant milestone in the use of wind energy in the Baltic Sea, with 50Hertz being the first transmission system operator to deploy 2-GW/525-kV technology in the region. This pioneering work highlights the importance of international collaboration in advancing renewable energy solutions and underscores the essential role of offshore wind in achieving European energy security and accelerating the global energy transition. Estamos muy orgullosos de colaborar con 50Hertz y Drydocks World para avanzar en los objetivos de energía renovable de Alemania y establecer un nuevo estándar para una infraestructura de red resiliente y sostenible”, dijo Philippe Piron, CEO del negocio de Electrificación de GE Vernova. “El papel fundamental de Drydocks World en el proyecto Ostwind 4 subraya su excelencia técnica y compromiso con el avance de la infraestructura sostenible. Este premio refleja la misión más amplia de DP World de impulsar transiciones hacia la energía limpia y el crecimiento económico. A medida que evoluciona el panorama energético global, seguimos dedicados a aprovechar nuestra experiencia y capacidades innovadoras para apoyar iniciativas que impulsen transiciones hacia la energía limpia y el desarrollo económico”, dijo Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, presidente del grupo y CEO de DP World. “Ostwind 4 demuestra los avances en tecnología HVDC que GE Vernova ofrece para apoyar la integración de fuentes de energía renovable a escalas transformadoras. El uso de nuestros convertidores de fuente de voltaje, interruptores aislados de gas g3 y diseño de sistema robusto garantiza no solo una transmisión de energía eficiente, sino también una fiabilidad operativa a largas distancias. Nos sentimos honrados de liderar este proyecto en colaboración con nuestro socio de consorcio Drydocks World y apoyar a 50Hertz en empujar los límites de la innovación energética”, agregó Johan Bindele, líder de Integración de Sistemas de Red en el negocio de Soluciones de Red de GE Vernova. —Aaron Larson es el editor ejecutivo de POWER (@POWERmagazine).