A joint venture between Siemens Energy and Spain’s Dragados Offshore has landed a €7bn contract to design and build three offshore wind-farm energy converter platforms in the German North Sea for transmission system operator TenneT.Weighing around 34,000 tonnes each, the platforms will collect the alternating current generated by several wind farms and convert it to high voltage direct current (HVDC) for transmission by cable some 200km to shore.

There, it will be reconverted into alternating current at stations in the German towns of Wilhelmshaven and Heide.

Together, the platforms would have the capacity to convert 6GW of offshore wind power for shore use.

Siemens will supply the main electrical components, such as switchgears, transformers and converter technologies, while Dragados will build and install the platforms.

Tim Holt, Siemens Energy executive board member, said: “In the global race against climate change, grid expansion must be able to keep pace with the accelerated expansion targets for renewable energies. Shorter contracting processes, large-scale tenders and standardisation of solutions show how grid operators and manufacturers are already pulling together to get green energy to consumers faster.

“However, in order for the industry to continue ramping up capacity, all available levers must now be pulled at the policy level as well – from raw material and skilled labour strategies to further streamlining permitting processes at all levels.”