Off-Shore Systems: High Voltage on the High Seas

100 km off the coast, foundations installed at depths of 40 meters, salt, sun, storms, and strong waves: Off-shore wind turbines operate under extreme conditions, requiring all components to be extra powerful and extra maintenance-friendly. However, good returns and a low environmental impact win through. A total of 8.000 approval processes for wind turbines are currently underway in the North and Baltic Seas alone. The European Wind Energy Association /typo3/predicts that Europe will get around 150 gigawatts of power from off-shore wind farms by 2030.

At the same time, efficiency levels in off-shore power plants are continuing to rise. While older turbines supply three MW, cutting-edge, high-power turbines can now generate as much as eight MW. However, a large proportion of the power produced with a standard generator voltage of 1.000 volts is then lost again during transmission. Increasing the voltage can reduce this effect. As a result, a new rule will apply to the high seas in future: Voltage levels are rising.

CONNEX gives wind farm operators everything they need to cope with the high-voltage systems of the future. Currently the only cable system certified for off-shore use, CONNEX features a dry, plug-in design, making it easy to install, water-proof, UV-resistant, submersible, touch-proof, low-maintenance, and strong enough to withstand voltage of up to 550 kV. It is already being used to connect the switchgears and transformers in the Dolwin three substation at the Global Tech I wind farm in the North Sea.

The project at a glance

  • First cable system certified for off-shore use
  • Suitable for high voltages up to 550 kV
  • Dry, plug-in design, easy to install
  • Water-proof, UV-resistant, submersible, touch-proof, low-maintenance
  • Tried and test in modern wind farms

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