Connecting offshore wind farms to the grid: Stuttgart consortium continues project control success

As a result of the energy revolution, planned wind farm projects in the North Sea and Baltic Sea continue to gain momentum. Connecting the wind farms to the German high-voltage grid is just as important as building the wind farms themselves. In addition to grid connections already in operation or under construction, the grid operator responsible for the North Sea TenneT TSO GmbH and its sister company TenneT Offshore GmbH will need to complete more of these projects in the German North Sea over coming years.

The consortium comprising Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG as leadhouse and
Drees & Sommer Infra Consult and Development Management - which is already supporting TenneT with the BorWin2, DolWin1, HelWin1 and SylWin grid connection projects with a total installed capacity of more than 3000 MW by providing project control services including engineering support - has now been commissioned by TenneT to undertake project control of up to five additional grid connection projects.

The consortium undertakes engineering tasks as well as providing project management services. These include technical inspection of several trades including acceptance tests, construction supervision and the coordination of the technical project team in the field as well as risk management, contract management, scheduling & progress tracking, cost management during the planning and realization phases, as well as documentation on completion of the project.

A grid connection project comprises an offshore platform on the high seas with cables to the wind farms to be connected, transformer stations, inverters, switchgear, and operations & grid control systems on sea and land. Depending on the locations of the platforms and the grid connection point on land, high-voltage transmission cables to the shore can be up to two hundred kilometers long.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is used over this distance. About three and a half years is allowed for completion of each project. This includes a post-project adjustment phase.

Optimum synergy of specialist and methodological competence
The large number of projects currently planned together with the current skills shortage is forcing companies responsible for such projects - like TenneT - to supplement their own capacity with external human resources for technical project support, project control and project management.

Ralf Epping, Managing Director at Fichtner responsible for Electrical Installations and Grids says, "TenneT's offshore grid connection projects in the German North Sea are international landmark projects. We are pleased that, as an independent engineering company, we can participate in the successful realization of the energy revolution. We bring our worldwide experience in transmission grids and project management to bear in these demanding projects for the benefit of TenneT. The necessary upgrade of both the national and European networks must occur at the same time as the expansion of offshore energy generation to ensure that electricity is delivered where it is needed."
Christopher V. Philipsen, Drees & Sommer Managing Director responsible for the energy sector adds, "If Germany wants to achieve the ambitious goal of an affordable energy revolution by the year 2022 while at the same time ensuring energy security, the companies responsible for these projects require appropriate resources in project management. In particular, it is the combination of professional engineering competence and professional methodological competence in the area of project management that provides the synergy necessary to complete projects successfully. Over the last four projects, TenneT has made a conscious decision to take this approach and I am of course pleased that we are able to continue the successful cooperation both with TenneT and within our consortium for the follow-up projects."

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