Inside GE Vernova, 50Hertz & DP World's Ostwind 4 Project
50Hertz, is the Transmission System Operator charged with managing the electricity grid in eastern Germany including major cities like Berlin and Hamburg.
The operator has just taken on a monumental task with the Ostwind 4 project.
Germany has already demonstrated serious commitment to renewable energy, with the nation’s current capacity boasting 1,602 offshore wind turbines amassing 8.9GW and an ambitious target in place to reach 30 GW by 2030.
Last year, wind energy took the lead in Germany's energy mix, surpassing brown coal and other traditional energy sources.
Now the country aids renewable development further by supporting this venture, which brings together Drydocks World, a subsidiary of DP World, with GE Vernova.
Together both companies will build and install a robust 2 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind grid connection.
This power boost intends to provide energy to nearly two million German homes.
Unpacking Ostwind 4
Ostwind 4 is not just any energy project.
Poised at a strategic location 30 kilometres northeast of Rügen Island, the project involves comprehensive construction works for both offshore and onshore converter stations along with a 110-kilometre DC cable system that bridges the sea with the mainland.
It will utilise exceptional High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology, a first of its kind in Germany's Baltic Sea deployment featuring a 525 kilovolts HVDC transmission system.
The endeavour doesn't stop at energy transmission. The integration of cutting-edge technology in the form of Voltage-Sourced Converters (VSC), Transformers, SF6-free gas-insulated switchgear, alongside civil works for the onshore converter station and grid automation equipment, underscore GE Vernova’s significant role.
“This order also highlights the rapid growth in GE Vernova's Electrification segment, our fastest-growing business, as our customers invest in the grid,” commented GE Vernova.
“We are very proud to collaborate with 50Hertz and Drydocks World to advance Germany’s renewable energy goals and set a new standard for a resilient and sustainable grid infrastructure.”
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz Transmission, adds: “The awarding of the contract to GE Vernova and Drydock World marks the beginning of a new chapter in the use of wind energy in the Baltic Sea. 50Hertz is the first transmission system operator to deploy 2 GW / 525 kV technology in this sea area. This is pioneering work.
“We want to ensure that the entirety of the technically and economically viable offshore wind energy potential in the Baltic Sea is exploited, primarily with the help of direct current technology.
To do this, we need to think and act in an even more networked way across national borders.
"One prerequisite for this is the creation of legal and regulatory conditions that enable wind farms in the waters of other EU states to be connected to the German transmission grid.”
The Collaborative Effort
Each organisation in this coalition brings unique expertise. Drydocks World will oversee the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the converter stations’s topsides and their jacket structures.
The topside, crafted in Dubai, will feature equipment designed and manufactured in Europe and upon completion, will be transported to German waters.
“This achievement reaffirms our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, setting new benchmarks for offshore wind projects and supporting global efforts to build a greener future,” states their spokesperson.
Captain Rado Antolovic, CEO of Drydocks World, explains: "The Ostwind 4 project exemplifies the power of international collaboration in advancing renewable energy solutions.
"Drydocks World is honoured to support Germany's transition to sustainable energy by delivering cutting-edge offshore infrastructure that embodies engineering excellence and environmental stewardship.
"This achievement reaffirms our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, setting new benchmarks for offshore wind projects and supporting global efforts to build a greener future."
Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova's Electrification business, agrees adding that: “Ostwind 4 represents a crucial milestone in our mission to electrify and decarbonise with the energy to change the world.
"By leveraging our advanced HVDC technology, this key infrastructure project supports the essential role of offshore wind to ensure European energy security and to accelerate the global energy transition.
"This order also highlights the rapid growth in GE Vernova's Electrification segment, our fastest growing business, as our customers invest in the grid.
"We are very proud to collaborate with 50Hertz and Drydocks World to advance Germany’s renewable energy goals and set a new standard for a resilient and sustainable grid infrastructure.”
DP World’s Pledge to Sustainability
DP World lives by the ethos "Our World, Our Future", a commitment echoed throughout its many environmental initiatives.
This includes pursuing electrification, reducing diesel usage, adopting solar lighting and numerous other projects aimed at promoting sustainability within its operations.
This proactive stance is more than just policy.
For example DP World has pursued initiatives including installing waterless urinals, employing hybrid technologies in equipment and improving climate resilience across their global terminals.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, DP World, added: "Drydocks World’s pivotal role in the Ostwind 4 Project highlight its technical excellence and commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure.
"This award reflects DP World’s broader mission to drive clean energy transitions and economic growth.
"As the global energy landscape evolves, we remain dedicated to leveraging our expertise and innovative capabilities to support initiatives that drive clean energy transitions and economic development.”
The combination of DP World’s vision and the initiative taken by partners like 50Hertz and GE Vernova in the Ostwind 4 project not only propels Germany towards its renewable energy targets but also sets a global benchmark for future collaborative projects in sustainable energy development.
Such endeavors bring together international expertise to foster a healthier planet and fast-track the global energy transition.
As Ostwind 4 progresses, its impact is set to extend beyond national borders, igniting similar developments worldwide.
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