Hitachi Energy's Grid-eXpand™ Cuts Offshore Wind Costs by 30% in China's First 220kV Project
Hitachi Energy, a global leader in grid connection solutions for offshore wind, has unveiled Grid-eXpand™. This innovative technology reduces the size and weight of offshore grid connection platforms by 30% and 20% respectively, saving a significant amount of steel and other materials. The company has successfully implemented this solution in China's first 220-kilovolt modular and prefabricated offshore grid connection for the 500-megawatt Shandong Peninsula South V wind farm.
The Grid-eXpand™ solution, used in the 500-megawatt Shandong Peninsula South V wind farm, receives power from 71 wind turbines at 35 kV and increases the voltage to 220 kV for transmission to the mainland power grid. This project is expected to generate 1.5 billion kWh annually, saving 460,000 tons of standard coal and 1.25 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year. The global offshore wind market is booming in China, with 80% of the 21.1 gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity added globally in 2021 installed there. However, the industry is facing huge cost pressures due to the end of attractive feed-in tariffs in 2022. Grid-eXpand™ not only lowers the capital and operating cost of offshore power transmission but also cuts delivery time by eight weeks compared to conventional offshore grid connections.
In addition to this technological advancement, Hitachi Energy is investing an additional $270 million CAD ($195 million USD) to expand its large power transformer manufacturing capacity in Varennes, Quebec. This expansion will further strengthen the company's position as a leading supplier of grid connection solutions for the offshore wind industry.
The successful implementation of Grid-eXpand™ in China's first 220-kilovolt modular and prefabricated offshore grid connection demonstrates Hitachi Energy's commitment to driving innovation in the offshore wind industry. With this technology, the company continues to lead the market, providing solutions that reduce costs, improve efficiency, and lower environmental impact. The additional investment in Varennes, Quebec, further solidifies Hitachi Energy's global footprint and capacity to serve the growing offshore wind market.
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