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Renewable energy

Hornsea 3 Onshore Converter Station: Critical Component in UK's Green Energy Transition

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As you drive north of Swardeston on the A47 or the B1113, you may have noticed a state-of-the-art facility rising from a 49-acre field that was once just an empty space. The Hornsea 3 onshore converter station is nearly complete, and it will play a vital role in delivering green energy from the Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm, capable of powering over three million UK homes. The offshore wind farm, currently under construction 120 km off the Norfolk coast, will have a capacity of 2.9 GW of renewable energy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm, expected to generate 2.9 GW of renewable energy, is currently under construction 120 km off the Norfolk coast.
  • The wind farm will power over three million UK homes when completed.
  • The onshore converter station, built by Ørsted, will convert direct current (DC) electricity from the onshore cable into 400kV of alternating current (AC) electricity to feed into the National Grid's infrastructure.
  • The two large buildings, Link 1 and Link 2, will be responsible for this critical conversion.
  • Ørsted, with over 30 years of experience in renewable energy, has prided itself on the speed and excellent safety record of the construction site.
  • The site has achieved 750,000 working hours with no time lost due to accidents or safety issues, thanks to a strong "one team" culture.
  • Hitachi Energy is the onshore converter station's principal on-site contractor, responsible for engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
  • The project has seen great teamwork between Ørsted and Hitachi Energy, with both teams committed to delivering a high-quality project without compromising safety.
  • Construction of the physical onshore converter station is nearing completion, and focus will soon shift to the commissioning of electrical equipment to bring the green power into homes across the UK.

Statistics:

  • The Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm will have a capacity of 2.9 GW of renewable energy.
  • The onshore converter station will have the capacity to convert 320kV of DC electricity from the onshore cable into 400kV of AC electricity.
  • The site has achieved 750,000 working hours with no time lost due to accidents or safety issues.

Sources:

  • Ørsted website (no date)
  • Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm website (hornseaproject3.co.uk)
  • Ørsted on social media (no date)
  • Hitachi Energy on social media (no date)

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