Recently, a consortium formed by Singaporean offshore giant Seatrium and GE Vernova successfully won a large contract for the BalWin5 offshore power grid project in the North Sea of Germany. This contract will enable Seatrium to achieve a total order value exceeding SGD 4 billion by 2025. But this project is not about building a wind farm, but about creating an energy highway that efficiently delivers green electricity from the North Sea to the German mainland - this is a key layout of Germany's energy transformation strategy.

The Grid Leading Strategy for Energy Transition

Germany plans to achieve a target of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power installed capacity by 2030, which requires a strong transmission system as support. BalWin5 was born for this purpose. It is led by the power grid operator TenneT, and its core is to build a high-voltage direct current transmission system with a capacity of 2.2 gigawatts, including an offshore converter station, an onshore converter station, and a 325 kilometer long sea land cable. The project is expected to be put into operation in 2032, providing electricity to approximately 2.75 million households annually.

Compared with traditional AC transmission, high-voltage direct current transmission technology is the key to this project. It can reduce the loss of offshore wind power in long-distance transmission by 30% -50%, greatly improving the economy. This also explains why Germany wants to prioritize the power grid - without an efficient transmission system, offshore wind farms will not be able to fully realize their value. This project is awarded based on the five-year framework agreement signed by both parties in March 2023, and is the fourth project of its kind won by the GE Vernova Setrium consortium, demonstrating Germany's determination to rapidly promote grid construction in a standardized manner.

System Engineering Template for International Collaboration

BalWin5 demonstrates highly specialized global division of labor and collaboration. According to the plan, Seatrium will undertake the design, construction, and installation of an offshore converter platform located in the North Sea, with most of the manufacturing tasks completed at its shipyards in Singapore and Batam, Indonesia. The project is scheduled to commence in January 2026. GE Vernova provides a complete set of HVDC technology and converter station equipment.

This model of Eastern manufacturing, Western technology, and European application ensures the optimal balance of cost, quality, and schedule for the project. For Seatrium, such high-end offshore projects solidify its strategy of transitioning to green energy infrastructure; For Germany, leveraging the global industrial chain has accelerated its energy transition process. The project cooperation is based on the five-year framework agreement signed by both parties in March 2023, which is the fourth similar project won by the GE Vernova Setrium consortium. Keywords: energy news, international news

This cable crossing the North Sea not only carries electricity, but also represents Germany's national will to achieve energy independence and promote industrial decarbonization. It marks the evolution of global energy infrastructure from decentralized power generation projects to integrated and systematic generation transmission use collaborative networks.Editor/Cheng Liting