Siemens Energy will supply its control system for EnBW’s He Dreiht project, the first time Siemens Energy will deliver its system, which has already been established in conventional power plants , for an offshore wind farm, according to the company.
Along with the control technology for switchgear and secondary systems, the company is supplying the central IT network, including a cybersecurity solution which will ensure that He Dreiht meets the legal requirements for critical infrastructure since, due to its size, the 900 MW offshore wind farm is subject to special guidelines from the German Federal Office for Information Security.
Siemens Energy has also signed a long-term service agreement with EnBW.
“Offshore wind farms are a key component of the future climate-neutral energy mix” , said Tim Holt , Member of the Siemens Energy Managing Board. “As the facility’s capacity continues to grow, so do the monitoring, control, and security requirements”.
Back in August 2020 , Siemens Energy also received an order from the grid operator TenneT to supply the high-voltage direct-current transmission technology, as part of a contract awarded to the consortium of Siemens and Dragados Offshore to build onshore and offshore converter stations for the 900 MW BorWin5 grid connection that connects the wind farm to the grid.
He Dreiht is located within the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the North Sea, about 85 kilometres north of the Borkum Island and 95 kilometres west of the Helgoland Island.
EnBW secured rights to develop the 900 MW offshore wind farm in April 2017 by placing a zero-subsidy bid in the first competitive tender in Germany and expects to start offshore works in the first quarter of 2024.
The offshore wind farm, which will feature Vestas 15 MW turbines , is scheduled to be fully commissioned by the end of 2025.