The first of two offshore substations for the 487MW SeaMade offshore wind project – Belgium’s largest - has left the construction yard in Hoboken for its final destination in the Belgian North Sea.
The 1,200 tonne substation has four decks, is 14 metres high and has an output capacity of 235MW.
SeaMade originates from the merger of two offshore wind projects, previously known as Mermaid (235MW) and Seastar (252MW).
The offshore wind array developed by a project consortium made up of Otary, Engie-owned Electrabel and Eneco is expected to produce power from mid-2020 onwards.
The high voltage substation at the heart of the offshore wind farm will transform the power from the wind turbines produced at 225kV to transfer it to shore via grid operator Elia’s Modular Offshore Grid (MOG).
“After the successful installation of the foundations and subsea cables we have accomplished yet another major milestone at the SeaMade offshore wind farm,” DEME Offshore general manger Bart de Poorter said.
ENGIE Fabricom, Tractebel, Smulders and DEME Offshore joined forces for the full EPCI scope (engineering, procurement, construction, transport, installation and commissioning) of SeaMade’s substations.
“ENGIE’s participation in the SeaMade offshore wind farm strengthens both our position as the country’s largest green energy producer and our ambition to lead the zero carbon transition,” Engie Benelux chief executive Philippe Van Troeye said.
Mathias Verkest, CEO of SeaMade Offshore Wind Farm added: “It is really exciting to witness the load-out of this massive 1,200 tonne steel construction at the Fabricom assembly yard.We are happy that the first out of two offshore substations is heading to the Mermaid concession area.
