Gemini Export Cables
OperationalOffshore GridNL600 MW220 kV121 km2016
Basic information
9 fieldsAlso Known As
Gemini 220 kV export cables
Status
operational
Capacity
600 MW
Project Company
Type
offshore grid
Transmission Model
Developer Full
Expected Life
20 years
Website
Supply Chain (9)
Project Timeline (11)
2018Stake Transaction
In 2018, Dutch offshore contractor Van Oord sold its 10% equity stake in the Gemini offshore wind project to German insurance company ALTE LEIPZIGER-HALLESCHE. As Gemini’s grid connection, including the two AC export cables and associated substations, is part of the overall project scope and is built and owned by the project company, this transaction also transferred a corresponding 10% ownership share in the Gemini export cable system to ALTE LEIPZIGER-HALLESCHE.
Alte Leipziger‑Hallesche acquired from Van Oord (10%)
Apr 2017Commercial Operations Full Power
The Gemini export cable system reached full commercial operation when the Gemini offshore wind farm achieved its full 600 MW operational capacity in April 2017, with power from the turbines transmitted via two export cables to the onshore substation at Eemshaven and into TenneT’s high‑voltage grid.
Feb 2016First Power
The Gemini export transmission system, comprising two high‑voltage AC export cables linking the offshore high‑voltage substations to the onshore substation at Eemshaven, first transmitted electricity to the Dutch grid when the Gemini offshore wind farm began generating power in February 2016.
2014Offshore Construction Start
Construction of the Gemini offshore wind project in the Dutch North Sea, including the two offshore high-voltage substations, the onshore transformer station at Eemshaven and the associated export and inter-array cable systems under Van Oord’s €1.3bn EPC contract, took place between 2014 and 2017.
Jun 2014Substation Supplier Selected
In June 2014, a consortium of CG Power and Industrial Solutions, Cofely Fabricom (now ENGIE Fabricom), and steel construction company Lemants received a €150m subcontract from Van Oord for the design and installation of the substations for the Gemini project, including the offshore high-voltage substations and the onshore transformer station that interface with the Gemini export cables and TenneT’s grid.
May 2014Cable Supplier Selected
In May 2014, NKT Cables was awarded a €165m cable supply contract for the Gemini offshore wind farm, covering the high-voltage cable systems, including the export cables transmitting power from the offshore substations to the onshore substation at Eemshaven.
May 2014Fid Financial Close
In May 2014, the Gemini project reached financial close on a €2.8 billion financing package to fund construction of the 600 MW offshore wind farm and its integrated 220 kV AC grid connection, including two offshore high-voltage substations and two export cables linking the offshore sites to the onshore substation at Eemshaven. The package comprised approximately €2 billion in senior debt, €600 million in equity and €200 million in subordinated debt, provided by 12 commercial banks, the European Investment Bank and export credit agencies Euler Hermes, EKF and ONDD, enabling the developer-built transmission assets to proceed as part of the overall project scope.
2012Cable Route Engineering
Between 2011 and 2012, Gemini Wind Park’s developers (Typhoon/Van Oord) commissioned an export cable route advice and installation impact study for the Gemini export cables. The study defined the AC export cable route from the offshore wind park through the Eems estuary towards Eemshaven, focusing on avoiding shipping lanes and sensitive nature areas and on achieving sufficient burial depth in highly morphodynamic zones to minimise future exposure and maintenance risk.
16 Oct 2012Other Permit Submitted
Licence: permit for submarine export cable installation
Van Oord Offshore Wind Projects BV, on behalf of client Typhoon Offshore BV for the Gemini project, prepared an Outline Method Statement for submarine export cable installation covering two 220 kV AC export cables, installation methods, surveys, corridor and burial depth, which was issued for a permit request dated 16 October 2012.
Date TBDCable Installation Start
The Gemini project describes that the export cable-laying process was executed in three main stages, starting with laying the shallow-water section between Eemshaven seaport and the North Sea through the sensitive Wadden Sea area, where the cables had to be buried deeply to protect them from tidal dynamics and external influences.