Hornsea 3

In the summer 2022, Aibel was awarded the contract for two HVDC converter platforms for Ørsted's Hornsea 3 offshore wind project.

Hornsea Offshore illustration Aibel

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The contract for the two platforms, Hornsea 3 Link 1 and 2, is an EPCI contract where Aibel is responsible for engineering, procurement, construction and installation. The design will follow Aibel and Hitachi Energy’s proven concept. This means that the platforms will have a lean design with a steel jacket structure. The unmanned platforms will be operated from shore and accessed for maintenance by SOV (Service Operations Vessel) or helicopter.

The two platforms will have a combined capacity of up to 2.852 GW to serve the offshore wind turbines in the Hornsea 3 project in the UK sector of the North Sea.

The Hornsea 3 project is headed from Aibel’s Oslo office, while construction of the two platform topsides will take place at Aibel's yard in Thailand. They will then be transported to Haugesund, where they will be outfitted with Hitachi Energy's latest generation HVDC converter valve technology, prior to final completion and commissioning. The platform topside for the Hornsea 3 Link 1 is scheduled to arrive in Haugesund in Q1 of 2025. Forecast sailaway to the Hornsea field is in 2026.

Facts

Contract: EPCI (engineering, procurement, construction and installation)

Client: Ørsted

Value: Each platform represents a major contract for Aibel (major = more than NOK 2.5 billion)

Delivery: Hornsea 3 Link 1 in 2026.

The Hornsea 3 project will be the single largest offshore wind project in the world. It is expected to produce enough energy to meet the average daily needs of over 3 million UK homes.

Hornsea 3 is Ørsted’s third project in the Hornsea Zone, where Hornsea 1 and Hornsea 2 are operational.