Siemens Energy Management and VBMS (UK) have been selected as the preferred electrical transmission system supplier for the proposed £3.5bn Navitus Bay offshore wind farm in the UK.
Both the firms will collaborate to deliver the project and intend to take support from the UK supply chain partners in the area, so that the project also offers economic benefits in the region.
Siemens’ energy management division will design the electrical system. It will also design, deliver and install the planned onshore and offshore high voltage substations for the project.
VBMS will design, supply and install the export cable, both offshore and onshore.
The Navitus Bay wind farm, which is being developed jointly by Eneco Wind and EDF Energy Renewables, will be located off the Dorset and Hampshire coast and to the west of the Isle of Wight.
Earlier this year, MHI Vestas Offshore Wind was selected as the preferred turbine supplier for the project.
The 50/50 joint venture between Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plans to deliver between 78 and 121 of the V164-8MW turbines for the project.
The number of turbines will however depend on the final approval of the project. It will depend on whether the project will be of 970MW capacity or 630MW with mitigation option.
UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is expected to make a final decision on the project in September this year.
The project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power about 700,000 homes per year and reduce 1,290,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Image: Location of Navitus Bay within England. Photo: courtesy of Ordnance Survey OpenData.