Function
Auxiliary systems are facilities that support the operation and maintenance of the substation and enable some wider wind farm maintenance activities.
What it costs*
About £3.4 million for a 450 MW floating offshore wind farm.
Who supplies them
Communications and networks: Atos, Cisco and Semco Maritime.
Cranes: Demag, Granada and Kenz Figee.
Diesel generators: Aggreko, Caterpillar and Energyst.
Fire and blast protection: InterDam and Mech-Tools.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning: Halton, Heinen & Hopman and Johnson Controls.
Helicopter fuelling systems: Imenco, Swire Energy Services.
Key facts
Like any other complex industrial facility, this offshore building needs fire detection and suppression systems along with security, safety, communications, and other monitoring systems.
Fire and blast protection is required because the transformers contain oil and coolants and present a fire risk. They need to be protected from fires elsewhere on the platform.
A standby generator is required to provide auxiliary power and lighting in the event of loss of connection to the onshore substation and to provide power to restart and reconnect to the onshore substation.
Also required are a control room, health and welfare and refuge for visiting crews, clean and black water systems, fuel tanks, LV power supplies, navigational aids, and safety systems.
What’s in it
- Auxiliary electrical systems
- Clean and black water systems (normally for HVDC substations)
- Communication systems
- Control room & refuge
- Crane
- Fire and blast protection systems
- Fuel tanks (normally for HVDC substations)
- Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment
- Monitoring systems
- Standby generator (normally for HVDC substations)