02/11/2010

Harland & Wolff Wins 'Powerful' Contract

Belfast's Harland and Wolff has won a contract for the design and building of two offshore substation platforms for the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm off the coast of North Wales.

The H&W Heavy Industries business will work on the substations that are to be completed by June 2012.

Robert J Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at H&W says he is very happy that the Belfast firm has secured the project.

"We are already a recognised renewables logistics base and prototype builder and are delighted to have been awarded this contract. It clearly demonstrates our continuing development as part of the UK supply chain for marine renewable energy.

"Our project goals are to make the design and build process frictionless for Siemens and to ultimately provide the operator, RWE Innogy, with a robust and durable offshore platform, built safely, on time and to budget.

"A considerable number of these platforms are required to meet the Government’s 2020 targets, giving substantial opportunities in the near future," said Mr Cooper.

The Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm is a 576MW, 160 turbine UK Round 2 wind farm being developed by a consortium of RWE Innogy, SWM – Municipal Utility Munich, Germany and Siemens 13km off the coast of North Wales.

Siemens will supply the wind turbines which will be connected via 33kV array cables to two new offshore substations.

Onboard the H&W built platforms Siemens' equipment will transform the power from 33kV up to 132kV for transmission back to a new onshore substation at St Asaph also to be built by Siemens.

(GK/BMcC)

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