BiMEP Test Site

Offshore GridOperationalES20 MW13.2 kV5.4 km

Basic Information

Also known as:Biscay Marine Energy Platform grid connection, BiMEP Armintza grid connection, BiMEP 20 MW offshore test site connection

Status:Operational

Capacity:20 MW

Transmission Model:Developer Full

Owners:

Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE)(100%)

Project Company:

Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE)

Type:offshore grid

Website:www.bimep.com

Description:

The Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) grid connection is a 20 MW HVAC test-site transmission system providing four 13.2 kV, 5 MW subsea connections from the BiMEP floating test berths to an onshore substation at Armintza (Basque Country, Spain). The system was installed to enable grid-connected testing and demonstration of...

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Project Timeline (0)

No lifecycle events recorded yet.

Design Envelope

BiMEP (Biscay Marine Energy Platform) is an operational open-sea test site offshore of Armintza (Basque Country, Spain) with a total grid export capability of 20 MW, provided via four pre-consented berths of 5 MW each. Each berth is connected to shore by a dedicated three‑phase 13.2 kV submarine export cable (four 13.2 kV / 5 MW subsea cables total) to an onshore substation at Armintza. The onshore substation includes 13.2/132 kV transformation (25 MVA transformers) to connect into the national power grid; seabed water depths across the test area are stated as 50–90 m.

HVAC

Capacity: 20 MW
Onshore substations: 1— Onshore electricity substation at Armintza with electrical protection/measurement and 13.2/132 kV transformation (noted as 25 MVA 13.2/132 kV transformers).
Export cables: 4— Four dedicated three-phase submarine export cables (one per berth), each rated 5 MW at 13.2 kV and fitted with fibre optic communications.
Water depth: 50–90 m

Landfall options

Armintza (Basque Country, Spain)

BiMEP is located off the coast north of Armintza; the submarine export cables connect to an onshore substation at Armintza.

Grid connection options

132 kV connection to the national power grid (via the Armintza onshore substation)

The onshore substation steps up from 13.2 kV to 132 kV for connection to the national power grid (no specific named TSO substation/POC stated in provided sources).

Cable Specifications

BiMEP Export Cable - Berth 1

Armintza, Basque Country, Spain

1 × 13.2 kV HVAC · 5 MVA · 2 km

System:1 × 13.2 kV HVAC

Power rating:5 MVA

Route length:2 km(2 subsea)

Burial depth:

BiMEP’s export cables were installed using a mix of horizontal drilling for the landfall and conventional subsea cable laying (installation works began in 2012–2013). Water depths across the test area...

Fibre optic:

Each of the BiMEP 13.2 kV export subsea cables is reported as being fitted with embedded fibre optics and the berths provide commercial power and fibre‑optic connectors for swift device...

BiMEP Export Cable - Berth 2

Armintza, Biscay, Spain

1 × 13.2 kV HVAC · 5 MVA

System:1 × 13.2 kV HVAC

Power rating:5 MVA

Burial depth:

Fibre optic:

Each of the BiMEP 13.2 kV export subsea cables is reported as being fitted with embedded fibre optics and the berths provide commercial power and fibre‑optic connectors for swift device...

BiMEP Export Cable - Berth 3

Armintza, Biscay, Spain

1 × 13.2 kV HVAC · 5 MVA · 1.7 km

System:1 × 13.2 kV HVAC

Power rating:5 MVA

Route length:1.7 km(1.7 subsea)

Burial depth:

Fibre optic:

Each of the BiMEP 13.2 kV export subsea cables is reported as being fitted with embedded fibre optics and the berths provide commercial power and fibre‑optic connectors for swift device...

BiMEP Export Cable - Berth 4

Armintza, Biscay, Spain

1 × 13.2 kV HVAC · 5 MVA · 1.7 km

System:1 × 13.2 kV HVAC

Power rating:5 MVA

Route length:1.7 km(1.7 subsea)

Burial depth:

Fibre optic:

Each of the BiMEP 13.2 kV export subsea cables is reported as being fitted with embedded fibre optics and the berths provide commercial power and fibre‑optic connectors for swift device...

BiMEP Test Site

System Topology