Construction has commenced in Singapore on TenneT’s Ijmuiden Ver Beta offshore wind converter platform.
The 2GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) platform is a significant development for the Ijmuiden Ver Beta wind farm, a joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).
The steel-cutting ceremony took place at Seatrium‘s Tuas Boulevard shipyard in the island country.
The platform is scheduled for installation in the Dutch North Sea by 2028.
GE Vernova is tasked with the HVDC system’s delivery, and in collaboration with Seatrium, will oversee the engineering and manufacturing of the platform.
The partnership leverages GE Vernova’s expertise in HVDC technology and Seatrium’s capabilities in offshore construction.
GE Vernova grid systems integration business line leader Johan Bindele stated: “We are excited about the start of construction of the Ijmuiden Ver Beta platform. This marks a major milestone in TenneT’s innovative 2GW programme.
“Together with our consortium partner Seatrium, we look forward to helping accelerate the expansion of the European offshore grid, which is critical to the continent’s climate-neutral goals.”
GE Vernova and Seatrium consortium has secured a framework agreement with TenneT for three Dutch platform projects: Ijmuiden Ver Beta, Ijmuiden Ver Gamma and Nederwiek 2.
These platforms will be integral to the connection of offshore wind energy to onshore converter stations at Amaliahaven, Maasvlakte, enhancing the Netherlands’ renewable energy capacity.
Seatrium Energy (Fixed Platforms) executive vice-president Samuel Wong stated: “After almost 18 months of engineering and procurement work, we are pleased to commence the first steel fabrication milestone for the construction of the first offshore HDVC platform for TenneT, working closely with our partner, GE Vernova.
“We have taken time to prepare meticulously for this project through detailed engineering work, which will enable us to achieve greater operational synergies for subsequent projects.”
In August 2024, TenneT entered into a time-bound connection and transmission agreement with GIGA Storage in the Netherlands.