Ørsted has completed the installation of the first offshore converter station for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm in the UK.
The structure stands 70 m above sea level and will transform power generated by Hornsea 3’s offshore wind turbines for transmission back to shore in the UK. It consists of a jacket, which is piled into the seabed, and a topside installed above it.
According to Ørsted, the converter station was built in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, before travelling more than 13,000 nautical miles to Haugesund, Norway, where high-voltage equipment was installed and commissioned. Offshore transport and installation were carried out by Heerema Marine Contractors, with the topside welded to the supporting jacket at the offshore site.
The company said the installation of the first offshore converter station marked the culmination of a global effort and four years of work involving planning, marine logistics and installation. Ørsted also thanked teams from Hitachi Energy, Aibel and Heerema Fabrication Group.
Luke Bridgman, managing director for Hornsea 3 at Ørsted, said the installation was a major milestone for the project and showed what detailed planning, strong collaboration and disciplined execution could achieve. He added that it reflected the technical expertise of the project team and contract partners, as well as a focus on safety at every stage.
Ørsted describes Hornsea 3 as the world’s largest single offshore wind farm.
