Northwester 2

Introduction

The Northwester 2 Offshore Wind Farm is a renewable energy project located off the coast of Belgium in the North Sea. With a commitment to harnessing the vast potential of wind energy, the project aimed to contribute significantly to Belgium's renewable energy targets. Enersynt contributed to the experienced project team with an Electrical Expert to ensure the successful development, construction, and commissioning of the electrical infrastructure of Northwester 2.

Project Background

‍The Northwester 2 Offshore Wind Farm was developed by Parkwind, a leading offshore wind energy company dedicated to sustainable energy production. The project's objectives were ambitious, aiming to provide clean energy to approximately 220 000 households and reduce CO2 emissions by over 500 000 mT annually.

The wind farm is located in the North Sea, off the coast of Belgium. It is fitted with 23 of the largest commercially available wind turbines at the time, resulting in a total installed capacity of 219 MW. This marks a crucial step toward Belgium's renewable energy goals and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Submarine inter array cables interconnect the wind turbines at 33 kV and transfer the generated power to an offshore high voltage substation with a total topside weight of approximately 1 000 mT. Power collected by the offshore substation is transported by a 220 kV submarine export cable to the Modular Offshore Grid (MOG) developed by Belgium’s transmission system operator ELIA, approximately 40km from the Belgian coast in the North Sea.

Role as Electrical Expert

‍As Electrical Expert, part of Parkwind's project team, Enersynt's responsibilities encompassed various critical aspects of the project:

HV/MV and Auxiliary Systems Engineering Review
‍Our team meticulously assessed the engineering of the high voltage (HV) and medium voltage (MV) systems, as well as auxiliary systems for the offshore high voltage substation. This ensured the robustness and reliability of the electrical infrastructure.

Managing Substation Erection and Testing
‍In close collaboration with the project team, our engineer managed the erection and harbor acceptance testing of the high voltage offshore substation at the construction yard in Aalborg, Denmark. This phase required meticulous coordination to ensure the substation's compliance with stringent quality standards.

Offshore Commissioning and Energization
‍Enersynt's electrical expert oversaw the offshore commissioning and first energization of the 225 kV submarine export cable, 33 kV inter-array cables, and the offshore substation. This critical step marked the transition from construction to operation.

Grid Code Compliance Validation Testing
‍To ensure seamless integration into the grid of the Transmission System Operator Elia, our engineer conducted the grid code compliance validation testing of the wind farm and its power plant controller. Compliance with grid codes is vital for the stable and efficient operation of the wind farm and the electrical grid it is connected to.

Voltage Service Provider Ancillary Services
‍Our expertise extended to calculating the operational expenditures related to the "Voltage Service Provider" ancillary services. Enersynt also facilitated the technical integration of the ReVolt interface with Elia, further extending the wind farm's contribution to grid stability.

Conclusion

‍The Northwester 2 offshore wind farm stands as a testament to the potential of offshore wind energy in reducing carbon emissions and advancing renewable energy goals. Through our role as Electrical Expert, Enersynt contributed to the successful construction, commissioning and taking into service of the project's electrical infrastructure.