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GE’s Grid Solutions scores Saint-Brieuc contract

By: Tom Russell 16/09/2020 GE’s Grid Solutions

General Windfarms

Ailes Marines, a company 100% owned by Iberdrola, in charge of the construction, installation and operation of the Saint-Brieuc wind farm in the northwest of France, has selected GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business to provide the main electrical equipment for the offshore wind farm’s substation.

GE’s Grid Solutions will be in charge of the design, manufacturing, installation and commissioning of the high-voltage electrical equipment as well as the substation’s control and protection system. GE’s Grid Solutions will design and manufacture 72.5 kV and 225 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) at its French plant in Aix-les-Bains. The substation’s control and protection system will be designed at its centre of excellence in Montpellier, France. Power transformers will be manufactured at its Gebze plant in Turkey.

GE’s Grid Solutions forecasts that the electrical substation’s commissioning tests will take place during 2022. The offshore substation will be positioned at the centre of the Saint-Brieuc wind farm, on a jacket type foundation. It will house the wind farm’s fully automated control systems, as well as all the equipment to ensure the reliable electrical connection between the wind turbines and the power grid on land.

“We look forward to working with Ailes Marines to bring clean energy to France with our advanced substation technology, as well as our expertise in integrating renewable energy to the grid,” said Heiner Markhoff, vice president and CEO of Grid Solutions at GE Renewable Energy.

Javier Garcia Perez, President of Ailes Marines and Iberdrola’s International Offshore Business Director, commented: “This new partnership with GE’s Grid Solutions for the electrical fitting of Saint-Brieuc’s offshore substation will contribute to maintain skilled jobs in France. The green economy is a major source of industrialization and sustainable, quality jobs which stimulate activity throughout the entire value chain. With the last of the supply contracts coming along, the project is progressing toward its construction phase, thanks to the support of all stakeholders, while helping France to accelerate towards a fully decarbonized economy.”

The Saint-Brieuc wind farm is located 16.3 kilometres off Brittany. Once completed, the wind farm, with a total capacity of 496 MW, will produce 1,820 GWh annually, expected to meet the annual electricity consumption of 835,000 inhabitants. The installation works will last several months and will continue until 2022. It is expected to be fully commissioned in 2023.

Since the final investment decision, Ailes Marines has finalised the contracts for most of its first tier suppliers for the components of the Saint-Brieuc wind farm.

In September 2019, Ailes Marines selected the company Navantia to fabricate the foundations for the offshore wind farm. The company has since moved to the Brest polder. This activity will mobilise 250 jobs over two years.

In May 2020, Ailes Marines contracted several suppliers, including Siemens Gamesa, for the supply of wind turbines in Le Havre, where the construction of its factory has just started. Ailes Marines also selected Prysmian as the supplier of the submarine inter-array cables, and Van Oord for the transport and the installation of the wind farm’s foundations.

In July 2020, Ailes Marines selected Saipem for the transport and installation of both the foundation and upper part of the electrical substation.

The pile and foundation installation works will start first semester 2021. The wind farm will be fully commissioned in 2023.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here. Alternatively, projects worldwide can be viewed on 4C Offshore's Interactive Map.

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GE’s Grid Solutions scores Saint-Brieuc contract

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