HVAC | Offshore High Voltage Station

The Offshore High Voltage Station is the heart of the wind farm. It is where all energy produced by the wind turbines is accumulated and converted (to minimize energy losses) for transport to the onshore connection. From the offshore substation the power is exported via submarine cables to the onshore grid.

The importance of HVAC for wind farms

HVAC is very important to assure continuous operation of the Offshore High Voltage Station (OHVS). The OHVS is packed with electrical equipment, like transformers, GIS and switchgears, LV- & HV-switchboards, which generate significant amounts of heat. To prevent overheating and electrical failure this heat needs to be dissipated. Every down time due to technical failure means a decrease in the supply of electrical energy, and thus revenue. If a technical fault occurs on the substation platform, then all wind turbines in the offshore wind farm may fail to function. By maintaining the right indoor climate, temperature and humidity level, the lifetime and proper operational status of equipment can be ensured. Durability and reliability are key in the offshore wind industry.

Robustness is a key requirement

We use high quality materials – like stainless steel and titanium – to avoid corrosion and guarantee the lifetime of the platform. Harsh environments also require specialized preventive maintenance to minimize the risk of early failures. Our MRO department is specialized in preventive maintenance work and offers customized HVAC maintenance contracts. The offshore wind industry knows ‘prevention is better than cure’ and to ensure optimal operations of the OHVS regular maintenance on the HVAC cooling system is to be carried out.