Siemens Energy wins 2 GW North Sea offshore grid connection project
Siemens Energy has secured a contract from German transmission system operator 50Hertz to deliver a 2 GW grid connection system for offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
The project, known as North Sea Connector 2, marks the first time Siemens Energy will build an offshore converter platform in partnership with a German shipyard. The company will work with Neptun Smulders Offshore Renewables (NSORe), a joint venture between Neptun Werft, part of the Meyer Werft Group, and Belgian construction company Smulders.
Project scope
Under the contract, Siemens Energy will supply key electrical transmission technologies for the offshore converter platform, including transformers and converters manufactured in Nuremberg and SF₆-free gas-insulated switchgear produced in Berlin.
The company said around 95% of the project scope will be delivered from German facilities. Siemens Energy has also secured a long-term service agreement covering maintenance, IT services and on-call support. The order is expected to be fully booked in the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026.
Platform design
The offshore platform will collect alternating current (AC) generated by offshore wind farms and convert it into direct current (DC) for transmission over long distances.
The topside structure will be built by Meyer Werft at Rostock-Warnemünde, while Smulders will manufacture the steel jacket foundation in the Netherlands. The platform will be installed around 200 km west of the island of Sylt in the North Sea.
Once the electricity reaches shore, it will be converted back into AC at an onshore converter station before being fed into the transmission grid.
Grid expansion
The project forms part of Germany’s efforts to expand offshore wind capacity and strengthen transmission infrastructure required to integrate renewable energy into the national grid.
According to 50Hertz, the consortium was selected through a competitive tender process based on both price and technology. The company said the project also demonstrates the growing capability of domestic shipyards to deliver offshore energy infrastructure.
Investment plans
Siemens Energy said it is investing several hundred million euros in expanding its production facilities in Germany to meet rising demand for energy transition technologies.
The company reported revenue of €39.1 billion in fiscal 2025 and employs around 105,000 people worldwide.
The featured photograph is for representation only.
