Dec 23, 2024
Hitachi Energy secures the Hornsea 4 contract.
Hitachi Energy has been awarded a contract by Orsted to provide equipment for the integration of 2400MW of power from the Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm into the UK grid.
Pending Orsted's final investment decision regarding the project, Hitachi Energy will deliver grid-forming power electronics utilizing its grid stabilization technology, Enhanced Statcom, to control variations in grid frequency and system voltage.
This represents the first application of this technology in the European offshore wind sector and signifies a technological improvement over the traditional STATCOM used at Hornsea 2.
"We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Hitachi Energy in supporting Ørsted's offshore wind expansion in the UK," stated Alana Kuhne, managing director of Hornsea 4.
"Hitachi Energy is a reliable partner, and we will closely collaborate to implement grid stabilization technology for the benefit of Hornsea 4 and the broader UK grid."
Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's grid integration business unit, remarked: "This contract enhances our long-standing relationship with Ørsted and builds on the global framework agreement that instilled confidence in utilizing Hitachi Energy's latest STATCOM technology.
"This is part of our collaborative innovation with our customers," he added. "With Enhanced STATCOM, we introduce into offshore wind what we have successfully provided to transmission system operators."
Hitachi Energy’s SVC Light Enhanced equipment combines power electronics for effective reactive power compensation with supercapacitors, which are devices that can absorb and inject active power into the grid within milliseconds.
The incorporation of supercapacitors to deliver active power capabilities not only enhances grid stability but also provides project owners the opportunity to offer inertia or grid stability services to the grid.
Situated 69 km off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea 4 received a 2.4GW Contract for Difference (CfD) from the Government in September 2024.
The final investment decision for the project is anticipated within the next 15 months, with a target for commercial operations by 2030.
Pending Orsted's final investment decision regarding the project, Hitachi Energy will deliver grid-forming power electronics utilizing its grid stabilization technology, Enhanced Statcom, to control variations in grid frequency and system voltage.
This represents the first application of this technology in the European offshore wind sector and signifies a technological improvement over the traditional STATCOM used at Hornsea 2.
"We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Hitachi Energy in supporting Ørsted's offshore wind expansion in the UK," stated Alana Kuhne, managing director of Hornsea 4.
"Hitachi Energy is a reliable partner, and we will closely collaborate to implement grid stabilization technology for the benefit of Hornsea 4 and the broader UK grid."
Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's grid integration business unit, remarked: "This contract enhances our long-standing relationship with Ørsted and builds on the global framework agreement that instilled confidence in utilizing Hitachi Energy's latest STATCOM technology.
"This is part of our collaborative innovation with our customers," he added. "With Enhanced STATCOM, we introduce into offshore wind what we have successfully provided to transmission system operators."
Hitachi Energy’s SVC Light Enhanced equipment combines power electronics for effective reactive power compensation with supercapacitors, which are devices that can absorb and inject active power into the grid within milliseconds.
The incorporation of supercapacitors to deliver active power capabilities not only enhances grid stability but also provides project owners the opportunity to offer inertia or grid stability services to the grid.
Situated 69 km off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea 4 received a 2.4GW Contract for Difference (CfD) from the Government in September 2024.
The final investment decision for the project is anticipated within the next 15 months, with a target for commercial operations by 2030.