Saipem and Siemens to develop a floating electrical substation concept

13 September 2022


On 5 September Saipem and Siemens Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint development of a cutting-edge technology solution in the offshore wind sector. This is a concept design for a 500 MW high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) floating electrical substation for use in offshore wind farms.

This kind of substation, for installation in deep water areas, offers several advantages, such as a lighter substructure, an easier and asset-light installation in challenging conditions, and lower decommissioning costs.

The concept will be based on a proven semi-submersible substructure, is designed to operate in the most extreme environments with enhanced stability, and can be scaled up as required. In addition, the design will address the industrialisation phase as it can be adapted to fabrication and assembly infrastructures worldwide. The floating substation could also represent a tangible solution for reducing the levelised cost of energy of floating wind farms.

The rationale of this combination of effort is that Saipem’s expertise in the engineering of complex and sustainable offshore infrastructures, including floating solutions, will be combined with Siemens Energy’s broad transmission portfolio to develop ‘a cutting-edge, standardised and scalable technology’.

Fabrizio Botta, CCO of Saipem, commented: “The new concept will be an enabler to enhance offshore wind developments in deeper waters by lowering the overall infrastructure investment. This agreement further confirms Saipem’s ambition to strengthen its leadership role in the offshore wind market by delivering industrialised and standard solutions.”



Linkedin Linkedin   
Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.