Electrical Infrastructure Design Considerations David Flood Head of Electrical Systems, Forewind Stakeholder Workshops, April 2010

Starting points for design (1) Approximate Footprint of offshore wind-farm location from offshore exercise Onshore connection point to UK Transmission Network Location, Timing for this point set by National Grid Developer has modest impact on choice of onshore connection location

Forewind must develop the optimum connection strategy to link together these two points

Starting points for design (2)

UK Transmission Network National Grid V= 400kV AC

Technical
Distance to existing grid or possible connection point Voltage level at existing grid (typically 400kV) Available capacity on grid and at connection point Electrical losses

Turbine Arrays Developer

V= ??? AC

NG Sub-Station

Cost Environmental issues Visual impacts Health and Safety

Starting points for design (3)

UK Transmission Network National Grid V= 400kV AC Turbine Arrays Developer

Cooperation and dialogue

Grid companies Land owners Authorities Technology suppliers
V= ??? AC

NG Sub-Station

Collecting the power from the turbines Typical inter array layout Radial configuration
Most common solution Adopted from onshore wind farms String a number of turbines along a 33kV cable Approximately 8 turbines on each array string (max. 40MW)
Turbine Arrays Developer V33kV AC
Offshore Collector Station

Power collection added

UK Transmission Network National Grid V= 400kV AC Offshore Collection Turbine Arrays Developer V33kV AC

Next step:
Connection to shore

Developer then OFTO V132 kV AC

Offshore Collector Station

NG Sub-Station

Exporting the power to shore (1) Two main choices of transmission to shore exist:
DC Direct Current always flows in the same direction, but it may increase and decrease AC Alternating Current flows one way, then the other way, continually reversing direction

Mains electricity in the UK has a frequency of 50Hz AC

DC more suitable for transmission over long distances

Lower losses Fewer cables But requires large converter stations at each end

HVDC converters - What do these look like? [courtesy of ABB]

Murraylink HVDC Light, Berri station (220MW)

BorWin1 offshore converter station (400MW)

Power transmission added

UK Transmission Network National Grid V= 400kV AC
Onshore Converter Station

Export Cable and DC Conversion Developer then Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) V= +/-320kV DC
Offshore Converter Station

Offshore Collection Developer then OFTO V 132kV AC

Offshore Collector Station

Turbine Arrays Developer V33kV AC

Onshore Cable Route

NG Sub-Station

Offshore Cable Route

Cable Landfall

Cost/risk/consenting considerations in route selection (1) Offshore AC array cables

Minimise array string lengths Minimise losses Avoid crossing array strings with export cable Scour can cause lengths of hanging cable (risk of damage)

Offshore DC export cables

Minimise cable length if possible Minimise number of crossings (pipelines, other cables etc) Pair of DC cables can be bundled into single export cable Need to have consented corridor to allow cable route to deviate around archaeology, sensitive sites etc Avoid areas where potential for damage to cable from fishing/shipping activity

Cost/risk/consenting considerations in route selection (2) Landfall point

Preferably chosen to minimise overall export distance Focus on consentability of location to reduce cost and consenting burden

Onshore DC export cables

Minimise cable length where possible capital cost Minimise onshore crossings railways, rivers etc. All add cost, time and consenting burden

Onshore converter station

120m x 60m x 23m footprint (approx.), with associated impact Needs to be in relatively close proximity to National Grid Transmission Network connection

DESIGN EXERCISE Inputs:

Wind-farm locations for each table informed by Offshore Exercise output Connection points to transmission network given by National Grid Offshore Development Information Statement

Design the best connection routes to:

Minimise overall cable lengths Ensure consentability of chosen route (onshore sub-station, onshore cable route, landfall point, offshore cable route) Minimise number of crossings (cables, pipelines, rivers, railways etc) Avoid sterilising areas of Dogger Bank Zone for future development with chosen export cable route