wiredinUSA April 2015

INDEX

European HVDC growth

Further growth for UK wind power

On-site pump power

Manufacturer roped in

Bekaert and its Chilean partners (through MatcoCables SpA) have acquired thewire ropes business of Arrium Ltd. The Australian entity has been renamed Bekaert Wire Ropes Pty Ltd and will be part of the Bekaert Rope Group in which Bekaert and Matco Cables SpA hold 65 percent and 35 percent respectively of the ropes entities in Canada, Chile, Peru, Brazil, the US, and Australia. The financial results of Bekaert Wire Ropes Pty Ltd will be included in the consolidated statements of Bekaert as from 1 st March 2015. The integration of the Australian rope activities will enable Bekaert to take a market position in mining ropes and enhance the company's strategy for growth in steel wire ropes.

The HVDC cable system interconnecting Norway and Denmark is ready for commercial operation. Prysmian Group was awarded the contract for the Skagerrak 4 interconnection between Norway and Denmark in January 2011. The contract comprised the supply, jointing and testing of 92km of 500kV mass-impregnated underground cable system and related accessories, with a transmission capacity of 700MW. Prysmian Group has also recently announced the successful commissioning and handover of other HVDC grid connections in Germany (BorWin2 and HelWin1) and the official inauguration of the land HVDC interconnection between France and Spain (INELFE). Two further DC offshore grid connection projects, SylWin1 and HelWin2, are near completion and scheduled to begin commercial operation within the first half of 2015. Prysmian is currently implementing HVDC cable systems for the DolWin3 and BorWin3 projects.

ABB has won an order from DONG Energy to supply a high voltage cable system to carry power from the Walney Extension wind park. The Walney Extension will provide generation potential of 660MW in addition to the offshore wind farm’s existing 367MW. The wind farms will make a significant contribution to the UK’s target of achieving 15 percent of its total energy production from renewable sources by 2020. Europe now has around 8GW of offshore wind power connected to the grid, with the UK a leading contributor, accounting for nearly half the installed capacity and a further 11.9GW of offshore capacity under construction or having planning approval. ABB will design, manufacture, supply and commission the 220kV alternating current extruded cable system. The link includes over 157km of submarine cable to connect the two wind farm platforms to each other and to shore, with 24km of underground cable for the grid connection.

Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Norvento has secured approval for the installation of two nED 100 100kW turbines at Shoreham Port on the south coast of the UK. Power generated from the turbines will power the on-site pumps responsible for maintaining the water level in the locked basin of the port. The twin turbines are capable of producing 555,000kWh of energy per year, compared to the annual 475,000kWh consumed by the pump house. Norvento's UK business development director, Ivo Arnús, said: “Shoreham Port will really demonstrate the versatility of medium wind as an on-site power source. “More than just a means of bringing down energy costs, innovative turbines like nED100 can fit seamlessly into the daily operation of essential equipment on-site and reduce overall impacts on the grid. We’re confident that Shoreham will provide a template for further sites throughout the UK and Europe in this regard.” Norvento’s nED100 100kW turbines include active and reactive power controls, which will enable the installed machines to cater for the variable consumption profile of the pumps.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - April 2015

wiredInUSA - April 2015

28

29