ABB has been selected to supply its pioneering WindSTAR transformers for a floating offshore wind farm located 20 kilometers off the coast of Viana de Castelo, Portugal.
A joint venture between Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the WindFloat Atlantic wind farm will feature the world’s tallest floating wind turbines that will generate enough electricity for over 18,000 households in Portugal.
Whilst traditional offshore wind turbines are secured onto the seabed and can only be used in depths of approximately 40 – 50 meters, the WindFloat Atlantic wind farm will be positioned in a location where the sea is 100 meters deep.
Designed to fit into the tower of offshore turbines, ABB’s WindSTAR transformers will be installed in each of the three turbines on WindFloat Atlantic to provide extra resilience against strong vibrations and extreme and sudden movements encountered on floating wind farms.
Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of ABB’s Transformers business unit, a part of the company’s Power Grids division, said these 66 kilovolt (kV) transformers for floating applications present an important opportunity to facilitate offshore wind farms installed in deeper water.
He said the 66 kV voltage level is the highest wind turbine rating in the industry, allowing for significant reduction in transfer losses and enabling higher efficiency.
“These transformers are another pioneering ABB technology innovation which will facilitate the integration of more renewables into the grid,” Mr Heimbach continued.
“ABB technologies continue to shape the evolving grid with solutions that help run the world without consuming the earth.”
