DolWin2
OperationalOffshore GridDE916 MW320 kV166.5 km2016
Basic information
9 fieldsAlso Known As
NOR-3-1 · HVDC DolWin2 · DolWin beta
Status
operational
Capacity
916 MW
Owners
Project Company
Type
offshore grid
Transmission Model
TSO Build & Own
Expected Life
36 years
Website
Supply Chain (6)
Project Timeline (15)
15 Jun 2017System Testing
ABB completed system testing and commissioning of the 916 MW DolWin2 offshore wind transmission link, including the 320 kV offshore converter station on the DolWin beta platform, the onshore converter station, and the associated subsea and underground cable systems, and handed the fully commissioned link over to transmission system operator TenneT in Germany.
7 Jan 2017Cable Repair
By 7 January 2017, ABB had completed remediation works and repairs on DolWin2’s HVDC cable system—initially expected to run until 27 March 2017—enabling the offshore grid connection to be safely re‑energised ahead of schedule.
7 Jan 2017System Restoration
DolWin2 was re‑energised and returned to operation on Saturday, 7 January 2017, with TenneT confirming that the offshore grid link resumed transmitting power significantly earlier than the originally anticipated completion date for cable remediation works.
2016System Testing
In spring 2016, after completion of offshore installation, the DolWin(2) Beta HVDC converter platform for the 916 MW DolWin2 grid connection was undergoing testing, with the converter presently being tested ahead of full grid connection to the German network planned for December 2016. These commissioning tests were carried out on the offshore platform in the German part of the North Sea for TenneT’s DolWin2 project.
2016Commercial Operations Full Power
DolWin2 grid connection system commissioned and operational.
7 Nov 2016Major Outage
On 7 November 2016, the 916 MW DolWin2 offshore HVDC grid connection went out of service after a series of unplanned automatic shutdowns, with the outage attributed to a fault somewhere in the HVDC cable, halting transmission from the Gode Wind 1, Gode Wind 2 and Nordsee One wind farms to shore.
12 Feb 2016First Power
The DolWin2 offshore grid connection transmitted first power on 12 February 2016, marking initial energisation of the 916 MW HVDC link that connects the DolWin beta offshore converter platform and associated North Sea wind farms to the German onshore grid.
1 Aug 2015Offshore Construction Start
On 1 August 2015, the offshore construction phase for DolWin2 advanced as Boskalis towed the DolWin beta HVDC converter platform from Aibel’s yard in Haugesund, Norway, to the DolWin wind cluster in the German Bight and positioned it on the prepared seabed. Assisted by multiple Fairmount and Union tugs, the platform was accurately located and submerged onto its gravel foundation, marking the start of offshore installation of the main converter structure for TenneT’s DolWin2 grid connection.
2014Cable Installation Start
TenneT awarded Siem Offshore Contractors and J-Power Systems a contract to supply, install and commission the 155 kV grid connection system linking the Innogy Nordsee 1 offshore substation to the DolWin beta offshore converter platform within the DolWin2 cluster. The two 155 kV HVAC three-core submarine composite cables were scheduled for offshore installation during the third and fourth quarters of 2014, marking the planned start of cable-laying activities for this part of the DolWin2 transmission system.
2014Revenue Secured
In 2014, the DolWin2 offshore HVDC grid connection secured its regulated revenue framework in Germany, with TenneT DE as the licensed grid transmission owner under a 30‑year regime and an indicative operating and maintenance charge of 43 per MWh, as summarised in WindEurope’s overview of offshore transmission assets.