Iberdrola and 50 Hertz sign agreement for Baltic Eagle

Spain’s Iberdrola has signed a construction agreement with 50 Hertz, the transmission system operator responsible for connecting the 476-MW Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm to the grid.

The agreement will see both companies co-operating in the construction, installation and commissioning of the offshore substation (OSS), the Spanish company said on Tuesday.

The OSS will connect the Eagle wind farm, being developed northeast of Rügen Island off the Pomeranian coast of Germany, to the onshore transmission grid in Lubmin.

Awarded in 2018, Baltic Eagle is Iberdrola´s second-largest offshore project in Germany, after the commissioning of the 350-MW Wikinger offshore wind farm at the end of 2017. A third project, the 10-MW Wikinger Süd, is currently under development.

The three projects, all developed off Rügen Island in water depths of 40-45 metres, will have a total installed capacity of 836 MW and require an investment of EUR 2.5 billion, thus becoming the largest offshore wind complex in the Baltic Sea. The projects combined will meet 45% of the electricity consumption of the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania state and will prevent the emission of 1.65 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

To execute Baltic Eagle, Iberdrola has contracted the joint-venture Iemants-Fabricom for the manufacturing of all structural elements of the substation, and marine contractor Heerema, who will transport and install the substation. The main electrical equipment for Iberdrola’s low-voltage part of the OSS will be supplied by Siemens Gas and Power. MHI Vestas Offshore Wind had already been selected as the supplier of 50 9.525-MW turbines.

The OSS’ fabrication is moving forward at different locations in Europe and the platform manufacturing has already begun in Belgian yards. The OSS will consist of a foundation and a topside module for the transformers and the electrical equipment. The four-legged steel jacket foundation will weigh 2,900 tonnes and the topside will comprise a closed multi-storey module of five decks weighing 4,250 tonnes. The sail-out of the OSS to the site is expected for 2022, and the completion and commissioning for 2023. Baltic Eagle is expected to be fully commissioned by 2024.