Increasing the array voltage is fundamental to unlocking the dramatic cost savings that the next generation of turbines (>15MW) will deliver. Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Offshore Wind Accelerator High Voltage Array Systems (OWA Hi-VAS) project has been working to build industry consensus on what the next array voltage level should be and the timing for making the transition to the next array voltage level.

In June 2022, the project published its findings. As detailed in the published report, the project found that 132kV is the optimal next array operating voltage (145 kV Umax). The study also highlighted the urgency with which the industry must make this transition, as the late-2020s is the earliest that 132kV wind farms could be operational, even with immediate proactive work from developers and the supply chain.

Further work is taking place, which will include building further consensus between OWA developers and cable suppliers on 132kV array cable requirements, understanding the supply chain’s development plans for 132kV cables, and taking steps to develop and qualify 132kV cables. The project builds on the success of the Offshore Wind Accelerator’s previous work in raising the array voltage from 33kV to 66kV, where similar industry consensus was reached.

Project end date

December 2022 (Phase 1)

Project lead

The Carbon Trust

Partners

EnBW, Equinor, Ocean Winds, Ørsted, RWE, ScottishPower Renewables, Shell, SSE Renewables, TotalEnergies, Vattenfall

Setup under

Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA)

Contact

Robert Keast, Project Manager
robert.keast@carbontrust.com