German transmission system operator 50Hertz has installed the Jasmund offshore substation platform at a 300MW wind farm area in the Baltic Sea, providing the main grid link for the Ostwind 3 connection.

Once commissioned, the offshore substation is due to start operation in October. At that point, it will raise the output from the Ostwind 3 turbines to 220 kilovolts and route the electricity to shore through subsea export cables.

Jasmund is the first offshore installation in the Baltic Sea for which 50Hertz, in its role as transmission system operator, carries end-to-end responsibility for both construction and operation. In earlier Baltic projects, wind farm developers had the lead role until a change in German law brought the rules into line with the regime already applied in the German North Sea.

Stefan Kapferer, chairman of 50Hertz, said Ostwind 3 follows the Ostwind 1 and 2 connections in the offshore area north-east of the island of Rügen, and that the company is working to finish the project on time and within its budget.

He also pointed to progress on the OST-6-1 grid link, which is designed to provide 927MW of transmission capacity to connect the Gennaker wind farm located north of the Fischland-Darss-Zingst peninsula. Two offshore platforms for this project are already in the construction phase, installation of protective pipes has begu,n and a new onshore substation is being developed near Gnewitz.

According to Kapferer, these offshore grid investments are a key part of efforts to make reliable use of the strong wind resource in German waters. He also highlighted cooperation with Danish system operator Energinet and noted that 50Hertz plans to work with additional partners around the Baltic Sea in the future.

The Windanker wind farm, which is being developed and operated by Iberdrola, and the Ostwind 3 grid connection are both targeted for completion in late September.