TenneT TSO B.V. and Iv-Offshore & Energy B.V. have signed a contract for the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) of the first 525kV offshore grid connection.
The FEED is part of the development of a new standard design for two 2GW network connections to the IJmuiden Ver wind farms.
The two High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) platforms located in the Dutch North Sea will be the first HVDC platforms in the world to be based on 525kV.
Approximately 160 wind turbines are expected to be connected to each platform.
The platform design from Iv-Offshore & Energy will contribute to a new standard for the future 2GW HVDC platforms from TenneT.
The large capacity and the fact that this offshore technology has never been applied before is what makes this project unique. During the entire design process, trade-offs will be made with regard to the lowest Levelized Costs of Energy (LCOE) and improving nature (nature inclusive design), the company said.
In addition to social cost benefits, it is also the intention that the natural world can benefit from this project, too. Environmental measures have been integrated as basic conditions in the design criteria of the HVDC platforms.
Ultimately, a design that keeps the social costs of sustainable electricity affordable, whilst at the same time contributing to the enhancement of the natural environment must be brought to the table. For example, the possibility of constructing a fish hotel is being investigated.