DNV GL to Certify TenneT Offshore Power Substations

DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body, has been contracted by Transmission System Operator TenneT to deliver the complete project certification for two offshore substations (OSS) for the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farms in the Dutch North Sea.

The reliability of renewable sources is increasingly important as the world continues to rapidly electrify while also switching to greener forms of generation. According to DNV GL’s Energy Transition Outlook Report electricity’s share of the total energy demand is expected to more than double to 45% by 2050 with renewables accounting for an estimated 80% of global electricity production.

This growth can already be seen in countries such as the Netherlands where TenneT has been officially designated as the offshore grid operator. As part of this responsibility, TenneT is to deliver five offshore substations to guarantee power transmission to the shore. Each substation will have a capacity of 700 MW, and will be connected to two wind farms in the Dutch North Sea.

DNV GL recently issued a Statement of Conformity allowing the jacket installation of the Borssele Alpha OSS, and expects to issue the full project certificate in 2019. Project certificates are expected to be issued in 2020 for Borssele Beta, 2021 for Hollandse Kust Zuid Alpha and 2022 for Hollandse Kust Zuid Beta (subject to the project receiving final approval).

Following a tender process, TenneT awarded the contract to certify the Hollandse Kust Zuid Alpha and Beta OSS projects to DNV GL. This follows a previous agreement for DNV GL to certify the first two OSS platforms – Borssele Alpha and Beta – which are currently under construction. The certification will be carried out according to DNV GL guidelines DNVGL-SE-0073 and DNVGL-ST-0145.

“Ensuring that we are able to meet all technical requirements of international certification requirements, is crucial for our project development process,” said Marco Kuijpers, Senior Manager NLO TenneT. “We have worked together with DNV GL on several projects. That experience and continuity will help us in realizing the new certification project."

Kim Mørk, Executive Vice President, Renewables Certification at DNV GL, added: “We are looking forward to continuing our successful partnership with TenneT for the next part of their project. Our certification will cover all stages of the projects from design through commissioning, to transport and installation to ensure rigorous international quality and safety requirements are being met.”