Ramboll to Design Westermost Rough Offshore Substation (UK)

Ramboll has won the detailed design of the offshore substation for DONG Energy’s Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm in the UK, which is estimated to make a significant contribution to the UK government goal of installing 33GW of wind production by 2020.

The contract with DONG Energy includes the conceptual and detailed design of the entire substation, covering both jacket and complete topside design.

 “After having successfully completed the detailed design of the substation for the Anholt Offshore Windfarm, we are excited to take on another substation detailed design for the offshore wind industry. Ramboll’s dedicated focus on this area and our extensive multidisciplinary offshore experience has ensured our success on this part of the offshore wind market” says Project Manager Peter Busch Nielsen.

Challenging seabed conditions

The Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm is located in the UK approximately 8 km off the Yorkshire coast, near the town of Withernsea and is proposed to contain 35-80 turbines of 3-7MW capacity, covering a total area of 35 km2.

The bedrock geology across the wind farm site constitutes a design challenge for the jacket piles as the soil conditions throughout the surrounding region is composed of upper cretaceous chalk. These soil conditions can prove challenging with respect to driving piles into the seabed. Ramboll is participating in other offshore wind farm projects at nearby sites and our experience from these locations will contribute to selecting the right approach for the Westermost Rough offshore substation.

The substation will consist of a steel topside installed on a four legged steel jacket supported by piles. The water depth in the area is approximately 16-26 metres and the water depth at the substation location is approximately 18.0 metres.

210 MW for 150,000 households

It is estimated that the approximately 210 MW wind farm will be able to provide enough electricity to supply 150,000 British households. The final design is due in the spring of 2012 and the substation is scheduled for installation in 2014.

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Source: ramboll-oilgas, September 26, 2011