Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit has completed the transport and installation of the BorWin epsilon offshore converter platform in the German North Sea, the company announced May 20.
The platform forms part of TenneT’s BorWin5 grid connection system.
Pioneering Spirit finished the two-week offshore campaign on May 18 after set-down of the 12,300-mt topside. This houses the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems that will convert power from the BorWin5 offshore wind turbines into direct current for transmission to the shore.
Allseas was responsible for the transport, installation, piling and grouting of the 7,500-mt jacket and topsides using the vessel’s novel lifting systems, wtih no requirement for support vessels alongside.
The company credits the all-in-one delivery to close coordination between its offshore crews and onshore engineering, project and support teams. Their planning and execution reduced project complexity, risks and timelines, Allseas added.
Work was conducted in partnership with Dragados Offshore, which designed and built the converter platform via a consortium with Siemens Energy.
The BorWin5 epsilon converter station should be operational by the end of this year and will serve as the central hub for EnBW’s 900-MW He Dreiht wind farm, 85 km northwest of the island of Borkum.
It was Allseas’ second full offshore converter platform installation, following DolWin Kappa in 2022.
