Ørsted Greenlights 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Ørsted has taken the final investment decision (FID) on what the company says is the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, the 2.9 GW Hornsea 3, which is expected to be completed around the end of 2027.
These are the two introductory paragraphs.
In July 2022, Ørsted was awarded a contract for difference (CfD) for Hornsea 3 at an inflation-indexed strike price of GBP 37.35 per MWh in 2012 prices.
The CfD framework permits a reduction of the awarded CfD capacity. The company said it will use this flexibility to submit a share of Hornsea 3’s capacity into the UK’s upcoming allocation round 6.
With all the work, that Ørsted have done to protect kittiwakes, which I wrote about in Kittiwake Compensation, the company seems to have been taking the development of this wind farm carefully and this statement from the wonderfully-named Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Ørsted indicates that the UK Government has been persuasive in times, that are not totally favourable to wind farm developers.
Offshore wind is an extremely competitive global market, so we also welcome the attractive policy regime in the UK which has helped secure this investment. We look forward to constructing this landmark project, which will deliver massive amounts of green energy to UK households and businesses and will be a significant addition to the world’s largest offshore wind cluster.
But the article also has this paragraph.
According to Ørsted, most of Hornsea 3’s capital expenditure was contracted before recent inflationary pressures, securing competitive prices from the supply chain, adding that the larger wind turbines and the synergies with Hornsea 1 and 2 lead to lower operating costs.
It looks like Ørsted, may have taken advantage of Siemens well-publicised financial woes and got a good price for the over two hundred turbines.
This page on the Hitachi web site, describes their part in Hornsea 3, where this is said.
Hitachi Energy has supported Ørsted with the grid connection of Hornsea One and Hornsea Two, but Hornsea 3 will be the first phase to use HVDC application in the Hornsea cluster.
The overall HVDC system, including the offshore platform, is delivered in partnership with Aibel. Hitachi Energy will supply two HVDC Light® converter systems, while Aibel will deliver two HVDC offshore converter platforms. The platform is based on Hitachi Energy’s modular HVDC system including its advanced control and protection system, MACH™. As the HVDC offshore market grows and becomes more complex, Hitachi Energy will continue to develop solutions with its customers and partners to enable a more flexible offshore grid of the future.
Hitachi Energy is supplying four HVDC converter stations, which convert AC power to DC for transmission in the subsea cables, then reconvert it to AC for integration into the onshore grid. Two of the converter stations will be installed on offshore platforms and two at mainland grid connections.
Note.
- Hitachi are pushing their electrical innovation hard.
- Hitachi and Ørsted have worked together on Hornsea 1 and 2.
- What better place is there for Hitachi to test their new modular HVDC system, than on one of the world’s largest wind farms?
- Hitachi appear to say, they like to develop with customers and partners.
It looks to me, that Ørsted may well have got new improved technology at an advantageous price.
This is the last paragraph of the article.
The Hornsea zone will also include the Hornsea 4 project, which could have a capacity of up to 2.6 GW. The wind farm received its development consent order from the UK government earlier in 2023 and is now eligible for forthcoming CfD allocation rounds.
So will Hornsea 4 be a slightly smaller version of Hornsea 3 using the same suppliers?
- There could be savings in the design and manufacturing of the electrical systems, foundations, sub-stations and turbines.
- Could for instance, Hitachi’s modular HVDC result in savings in converters and sub-stations, if the two wind farms shared infrastructure?
- I’m sure that Siemens, Hitachi and the other suppliers will be happy to just keep rolling.
- It would be an ideal follow-on.
It looks to me, that by using good design and management, and established suppliers, Ørsted have managed to get the costs of Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4 to a level, where the venture is profitable.
Siemens Gamesa And Vestas Collaborate To Standardise Equipment For Transportation Of Wind Turbine Towers
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on offshoreWIND.biz.
This is the sub-heading.
Building on a previous collaboration focused on tower foundations and lifting guidelines, Siemens Gamesa and Vestas, facilitated by Energy Cluster Denmark, have signed a new partnership agreement to increase standardisation within the wind industry.
Surely standard sizes and similar designs will help any industry. Look at how containerisation has helped freight transportation.
These four paragraphs illustrate the problem and detail the solution.
Initially, the partners will standardise equipment for the transportation of wind turbine towers.
“Currently, whenever a wind turbine tower is shipped out for offshore installation, the manufacturer welds a box onto the installation vessel to which the tower is then clamped. The process is costly in terms of tons of iron and labour on the quayside. Once installation offshore is completed, all the equipment is removed from the vessel, which is again costly in terms of hours, money and the green transition,” said Jesper Møller, Chief Engineer in Offshore Execution at Siemens Gamesa.
The new partnership agreement comprises a series of projects involving equipment for and the storage of huge components produced by wind turbine manufacturers.
The first project focuses on sea fastening, involving securing towers, blades, and nacelles to installation vessels.
The article finished with statements about why standardisation is important.
Merthyr Tydfil Station – 28th November 2023
Yesterday, I went to South Wales to look at the progress of the South Wales Metro.
I took these pictures at the station and in the town.
Note.
- It is only a single-platform station.
- The platform and track appear to be reasonably flat.
- Several bay terminal platforms in the UK like four of those at Dalston Junction and Highbury & Islington stations near me are able to handle four trains per hour (tph).
- The Class 150/2 trains in the are 19.74 metres long and have a maximum capacity of 149.
- The new electric Class 398 tram-trains are 40.07 metres long and have a capacity of 252.
The platform appears to be long enough for the new trains.
These are my thoughts.
Capacity To And From Merthyr Tydfil
Consider.
- Currently, there are two Class 150/2 tph.
- This means current capacity is 298 passengers per hour.
- After electrification, there will be four Class 398 tph.
- This means future capacity is 1008 passengers per hour.
That is an increase of 238 % in the capacity.
Where Is The Electrification?
This OpenRailwayMap shows the proposed electrification at Merthyr Tydfil station.
Note.
- Electrified lines are shown in red.
- Unelectrified lines are shown in black.
- The railway is single-track until past Troed-y-Rhiw, after which it is double track to Merthyr Vale station.
- Between Merthyr Vale and Abercynon is single-track, with a short length of unelectrified double-track at Quaker’s Yard station.
It appears that the section of the Merthyr Line at Merthyr Tydfil station will not be electrified.
- The tram-trains’ batteries must be large enough to climb the unelectrified section .
- There must also be enough power to nudge the tram-train back down the hill, after the climb has been completed.
- At least the pictures show, that the track in Merthyr Tydfil station, is reasonably flat.
It looks to be a neat piece of cost-saving design.
Why Did I Feel Better In Merthyr Tydfil?
I have been feeling under the weather lately, but I felt a lot better in Merthyr!
Was it the altitude of 180 metres?
My cardiologist friend, says most people feel worse at altitude. But I seem to be the other way round.
My wife was certainly feeling rough, when I drove a car up to 13,000 feet in the Andes of Ecuador, whereas I was fine.
Incidentally, the car was coughing and wheezing like a good ‘un.
My Phone Died!
So I bought a new one!
I’ve managed to set it up, but it’s so different to my previous Samsung, that i haven’t a clue hoe to use it. I also made the mistake of using a secure password, which it constantly asks me.
I’m seriously, thinking of giving up having a mobile phone.
Can’t designers leave well enough alone!
I hate being ripped off!
A Design Crime – Marks And Spencer’s New Paper Carrier Bag
This article on the BBC is entitled Marks & Spencer Scraps Plastic For Paper Bags.
This is the sub-heading.
Marks & Spencer is swapping plastic carrier bags for paper ones in all stores, in an expansion of a trial that began in 10 branches in January.
These two paragraphs give a few reasons.
It follows other High Street stores in swapping plastic bags to paper in a bid to cut plastics use.
Supermarkets Morrisons, Waitrose and Aldi all use paper bags for customers, though some stores offer plastic bags as an option.
But the proof of the bag is in the using.
This picture shows the new bag.
It’s main problem is unlike the plastic bags, it is a nightmare to fold.
I could also fold the plastic bags, so they went in the pocket of my Barbour jacket.
I have searched my house for some of the green plastic bags to use in the future.
Conclusion
Three out of ten!
Cadent’s Hydrogen-Hybrid Solar Toilet
You see some strange sites on the streets of London, but this is one of the strangest I’ve seen for some years.
It describes itself as a Zero-Emission Support Unit, which is solar-powered with hydrogen back-up.
I suspect some of the conversation and banter amongst users is priceless to say the least.
But at least it doesn’t hide its achievement of a zero-carbon toilet under a bushel.
The City Of London’s Soldiers
I’ve travelled to many cities and countries all over the world and can’t remember seeing colourful bollards like those in the City of London.
Does any other city use something similar?
Portway Park & Ride Station – 10th August 2023
Portway Park & Ride station, opened on the first of this month, so I went to visit today.
Note.
- The Portway Park & Ride is served by both buses and trains.
- Buses serve the City Centre and rugby and football at Ashton Gate stadium.
- Trains serve Avonmouth, Bristol Temple Meads, Severn Beach, Weston-super-Mare and a large number of other Bristol stations.
The M5 crosses over the railway to the West of the station.
This Google Map shows the M5 and the Portway Park & Ride.
Note.
- The M5 goes diagonally SW-NE across the map.
- The wide river is the Avon.
- Portway Park & Ride with its station is in the middle of the bottom of the map.
- Avonmouth station is in the North-West corner of the map.
The Portway Park & Ride seems to be an extremely well-connected Park & Ride.
These are my thoughts.
Are There Any Other Park & Ride Sites, Where A Station Could Be Added?
Consider.
- I wrote about a possible new station at Leicester Forest East in A Station At Leicester Forest East.
- In A Look At New Station Projects, several possible Park & Ride stations are mentioned.
Has Portway Park & Ride been developed to see if sites served by buses and trains are a good idea?
Is Portway Park & Ride The Solution To Big Matches At Ashton Gate?
Consider.
- Ashton Gate Stadium has a capacity of 27,000.
- Wikipedia says that buses from Portway Park & Ride are used to bring supporters to games.
- The platform at Portway Park & Ride might be able to take a five-car Class 802 train for a big match.
I wouldn’t be surprised that Portway Park & Ride has been designed for large crowds at big matches at Ashton Gate.
T-Pylons To The West Of Yatton Station
I talked about National Grid’s first T-pylons in National Grid Energise World’s First T-Pylons.
Today, I went and had a look for them and found where they cross the Bristol-Exeter Line between Yatton and Worle stations.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- The first nine pictures were taken going West between Yatton and Worle and the last eleven were taken going East.
- Some of the mature trees seem to hide the pylons, as the train passes.
T-pylons are deliberately smaller than traditional pylons, as these pictures show.
It is certainly a good attempt at producing a less noticeable electricity transmission line.
London Underground: Platform Phone Boxes Given Listed Status
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Four classic phone boxes on London Underground platforms have been Grade II-listed, Historic England has announced.
This is the first paragraph.
The K8 model, which came after the traditional red-panelled box, was designed to have a “modern and minimalist” appearance.
These are the four boxes.
Chalfont & Latimer Station
This box is at Chalfont & Latimer station.
Why is it maroon?
Chorleywood Station
This box is at Chorleywood station
It is maroon like the nearby one at Chalfont & Latimer station. Is it maroon for Metropolitan?
This box is next to a defibrillator. Could the K8 phone boxes be used to protect the defibrillators from the elements?
High Street Kensington Station
The box is on the platform at High Street Kensington station.
Why is it in dark blue? Dark blue is not Circle or District.
Northwick Park Station
The box is on the island platform at Northwick Park station.
I think it needs a bit of tender loving care, rather than listing.
The Anonymous Widower 