AREVA’s Transmission and Distribution division (T&D) has secured a contract worth approximately 60 million euros with StatoilHydro. Through this project, AREVA will provide both offshore and onshore substations in order for the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm to be connected to the UK’s electricity grid. This electricity supply will provide enough power for more than 230,000 homes for the whole of the North Norfolk coast.

AREVA will supply two offshore substations as well as an onshore Gas-insulated substation with all related equipment including transformers, circuit breakers and reactive power compensation. Such compensation will provide the necessary support to deal with the variations and instabilities associated with the power flow from the wind farm.

Lars-Petter Mariussen, Contracts Manager at StatoilHydro comments: “AREVA was able to demonstrate its knowledge and competence in developing a solution which met the criteria and took into consideration the respective grid codes which we must comply with for this wind farm project. The successful completion of the Barrow and Robin Rigg offshore wind farms, both of which AREVA played an integral role, gives us great confidence that they will help us meet the Government’s target of producing 15% of its energy from renewable by 2020.”

Philippe Guillemot, Chairman and CEO of AREVA T&D explains: “This project reinforces our expertise within the renewable sector and our commitment to meet the targets set by the UK Government. Our company has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in complex electrical connections gained through decades of designing, manufacturing and commissioning substations and we are proud to be given the opportunity to help deliver this major wind farm.”