Hitachi Energy To Build Electrical System For 1.4GW Offshore Wind Project of Equinor

Norway based Equinor ASA has awarded a contract to Switzerland based Hitachi Energy that will build electrical systems infrastructure for two of the largest offshore wind energy projects in Poland- MFW Baltyk II and MFW Baltyk III wind farms. The two wind farms are being developed in the Baltic Sea area and lie 27 km and 40 km respectively from the port of Leba.

According to Equinor, the total installed capacity of the two wind farms is 1440 MW. The wind projects are backed by a joint venture between Equinor and Polenergia where the two firms have equal share. Although, Equinor will be operating the wind energy projects throughout the development, construction and operating phases.

Hitachi will develop the electrical system starting from the wind turbines to the point where it’s being joined into the grid system at the Slupsk-Wierzbiecino substation. The contract is worth about EUR 251 million.

Equinor also wants Hitachi Energy to build the complete telecom network and overall power control system. The vendor will also develop the total high-voltage equipment at both offshore substation and onshore substation. Hitachi will also provide the turnkey delivery of the entire substation onshore.

As per the contract, Hitachi will also have to deliver the interface work at the grid connection in Slupsk.

Michał Kołodziejczyk, Country Manager, Equinor, Poland, said, “This is another key milestone for these offshore wind projects, which will supply domestically produced renewable energy to the Polish power grid. We look forward to working with Hitachi Energy in Poland and their local subcontractors on bringing this competitive source of renewable energy to Poland.”

Equinor will make a final investment decision in 2024 for the Baltyk projects. Power generation will begin in the wind farms in 2027. The total green electricity can power over 2-million households in Poland.

The Polish government wants the total installed capacity in renewable electricity generation units to amount to 23-25 GW by 2030.