HVDC Light - A Wind Farms State of The Art Technology Solution by ABB

For network integration of Germany’s offshore wind farm cluster ”BorWin”, around 130 km off the North Sea coast, ABB has supplied the BorWin1 transmission link, a well proven voltage source converter system also called HVDC Light®. For the first time, wind power generated on the high seas is being connected using high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC). 

This link, being the first of its kind and rated 400 MW, constitutes the foundation for utilizing remote offshore wind power, thus making an important contribution to the German federal government’s ambitious strive to increase the share of renewable energies in power generation.In addition to the BorWin1 link, ABB is currently in the process of delivering the next large grid connection in Germany for renewables; a connection of three wind farms situated in the DolWin cluster. 

The in total 800 MW from these wind farms will be transported by a state-of-the-art HVDC Light system, featuring ABB’s latest developments within power transmission technology, such as cascaded two-level converters and 320 kV extruded polymer-based cables.

 The DolWin1 link will not only enable to further cut transmission losses utilizing new development of proven technology but also to integrate this eco-friendly power further inland than any other project, thereby reducing the network congestion in the near-shore grid.The HVDC Light system is a self-commutated HVDC, based on power transistors (IGBT) and the use of lightweight, ecofriendly polymer cables. Compared to an AC link to connect the wind farm, this modern, eco-compatible technology, with its very low electromagnetic fields, oil-free cables and compactly dimensioned converter stations, cuts transmission losses by 25 %.