ABB gets power converter contract for Dogger Bank wind farm

The PCS6000 voltage converters will be installed in 220m diameter 13MW GE Haliade-X wind turbines. “Currently, the most powerful offshore wind turbines in the world, they are destined to produce 1.2GW in the first phase of the Dogger Bank wind farm,” according to ABB.

The 3.3kV converters use a four-quadrant, three-level topology based around IGCTs (integrated gate-commutated thyristors). They can be configured between 4 and 12MW. 250 of them, according to ABB, are already operating – in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and around China. GE collaborated in optimising PCS6000 for Haliade-X – testing has been on a turbine in Rotterdam.

Four-quadrant operation allows the generator to be motored for testing and rotor positioning for installation and maintenance.

Engineering is led by ABB in Turgi, Switzerland and the converters will be made in Łódź, Poland. First delivery is scheduled for summer 2021, with completion in late 2022.

Located 130km from the UK shore, Dogger Bank wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor. There are three phases, each with 1.2GW max capacity – by 2026, it is scheduled to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

The nearby Sofia Offshore Wind Farm will use 100 14MW Siemens Gamesa turbines, each standing 252m tall, to produce 1.4GW. Offshore works are set to begin in 2023.

ABB PCS6000 at a glance

• 0 – 3.4kV generator-side voltage
• 0 – 3.4 kV grid-side voltage
• 0 – 120Hz generator-side frequency (plus options)
• 50/60 Hz grid-side frequency
• ~98% efficiency