SEOUL – European firm Tractebel Engineering is offering latest innovation on floating substations as technology solution for gigawatt-scale offshore wind farm projects currently being advanced in various energy markets in the Asian region.

At the ongoing 2nd Korea Offshore Wind and Hydrogen Summit here, Mert Candarli, manager for Business Development of Offshore Renewables for Brussels-headquartered Tractebel Engineering, has apprised project developers across global markets that their company had already gained traction on the design and application of offshore substation (OSS) to underpin the capacity delivery of offshore wind generation; and the company also promises to help sort out solutions on how to de-risk investments on this sphere.

Offshore substation has yet to reach mainstream as a technology solution for offshore wind farm installations, yet this early, this is an innovation that has already been catching the attention of project developers worldwide.

Apart from OSS, the European firm is also advancing onsite ‘offshore wind-solar integration’ as another domain of innovation that has been making inroads through the boundaries of renewable energy (RE) powerhouses globally.

As it stands today, the fusion of offshore wind-solar farm development has been showing great promise as an integrated solution for the world’s energy transition goals.

Tractebel indicated that its offshore substation technology already had its initial deployment in the 396MW Merkur offshore wind farm project in Germany; and that so far manifested the scalability of such solution to other offshore wind farm projects in various parts of the world.

In the Merkur offshore wind farm development, Tractebel had worked with its affiliate firm ENGIE Fabricom on the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the project; but Tractebel, in particular, has been responsible for the basic and detailed engineering, procurement as well as testing and commissioning of the facility.

Candarli noted that for offshore substation deployment, their company could aid project developers not just on the design of the facility, but also on procurement strategies as well as budget and planning for the deployment of such technology solution.

In terms of engineering design, he qualified that Tractebel would typically work with customers or clients on the details relating to subcontracting, interfaces, design review meetings, the timing for testing as well equipment dimensioning.

The Tractebel executive similarly conveyed that when it comes to OSS design, “our experience has taught us to be mindful of the practical aspects,” primarily on installations relating to high voltage gas-insulated switchgear (HV-GIS); as well as those on transformer and steel quality procedures.

Candarli explained that when it comes to the switchgear and breakers, there is a need to “mind the floor detection” as he emphasized that “steel floor has much more deflection than concrete floor.” As it is, he qualified that HV-GIS “is intended to be installed on a concrete floor.”

When it comes to transformers, he pointed out that the major concern often delves with the paint and corrosion; and there are also issues to be tackled on steel quality procedures.

In terms of technological advancements being pushed into the offshore wind industry and the renewable energy sector in general, the European company reckoned that “the risks are already being pushed down when it comes to innovation.”