2008-08-25 - The order will supply 140 step up transformers for a windfarm to be constructed in the Outer Thames Estuary in England.
Zurich, August 25, 2008 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth $18 million from Fluor to supply 140 step up transformers for a 504 MW offshore windfarm to be constructed in the Outer Thames Estuary in England. Once completed this will be the world’s largest offshore windfarm. The midel filled 4 MVA units will be designed, manufactured, and tested in the Waterford distribution transformer factory in Ireland.
The windfarm is being developed by Greater Gabbard Offshore Winds Ltd (GGOWL). GGOWL was established as a joint venture partnership between Airtricity and Fluor, but in May 2008, Airtricity purchased Fluor’s stake in the project and the company is now a 100% owned subsidiary of Airtricity, the renewables arm of Scottish and Southern Energy.
The windfarm site covers two offshore areas, Inner Gabbard and The Galloper, which are located approximately 25 km off the Suffolk coast, in the outer Thames Estuary. The 140 turbines will be mounted on steel monopiles and transition pieces, in water depths between 24 and 34 metres. The offshore construction activities will commence in 2009 with completion planned for the end of 2010.
Booked in the second quarter of 2008, the 140 midel filled 690 V – 33 kV 4 MVA step up transformers will be located in the transition piece of each turbine, and will be a critical component of the windfarm. It’s a bespoke solution tailored to the particular needs of offshore windfarms. Upon manufacture the transformers will be shipped to a staging post in Rotterdam, for fitting inside the transition piece, before being shipped to the windfarm site for installation.
A critical factor in securing the order was the professionalism of the ABB capture team, made up of representatives of the ABB UK sales organization and the distribution transformer factory in Waterford, Ireland. During the contract negotiations the client required many commercial and technical clarifications and was impressed by the speed and quality of the ABB responses.
The UK Government has committed to having 10% of its energy needs met from renewable sources by 2010. The target rises to 20% by 2020 and to 60% by 2050. These targets are driven by the twin concerns of climate change and the need to secure energy supplies for the future. Offshore wind will make a significant contribution towards the achievement of these objectives with the Greater Gabbard Offshore Windfarm alone contributing 5% of the 2010 target. Following the ‘Round Two’ of site awards a significant programme of offshore wind farm development is already underway. The Greater Gabbard project is one of 15 projects awarded as part of this.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 115,000 people.