Hitachi Energy and Ørsted to ensure grid stability at Hornsea 4 with a technology first for offshore wind in Europe

Press Release | Zurich, Switzerland | 23.12.2024 | 2 min read

Hornsea 4 is expected to be Europe’s first offshore wind farm to feature Enhanced STATCOM, the next generation of grid stabilization technology
This technology will help Ørsted reliably integrate 2.4 gigawatts of clean energy into the grid to power approximately 2.6 million UK homes
Through close collaboration with Ørsted, Hitachi Energy supports grid stability as the UK expands its renewable capacity

Hitachi Energy has received an order from Danish renewable energy developer Ørsted, subject to final investment decision, to provide the power electronics technology to integrate 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy from the Hornsea 4 offshore wind farm into the grid, helping to meet the United Kingdom’s Clean Power 2030 targets.

Hitachi Energy will supply an advanced grid-forming solution that employs the next generation of grid stabilization technology, Enhanced STATCOM - to manage grid frequency variations and system voltage at all times. It is the first time the technology will be used in the offshore wind industry in Europe and marks a major milestone in the evolution of the conventional STATCOM installed at Hornsea 2.

We’re delighted, once more, to partner with Hitachi Energy to support Ørsted’s offshore wind buildout here in the UK.

Hitachi Energy is a trusted partner, and we’ll work closely together to deploy grid stabilization technology for the benefit of Hornsea 4 and the wider UK grid.

Alana Kühne
Managing Director of Hornsea 4

The contract strengthens our long-term relationship with Ørsted and builds on the foundation of a global framework agreement that provided the confidence to use Hitachi Energy’s latest STATCOM technology. This is part of our co-creation innovation with our customers.

With Enhanced STATCOM, we bring to offshore wind what we have already delivered to transmission system operators.

Niklas Persson
Managing Director of Hitachi Energy´s Business Unit Grid Integration

Hitachi Energy’s breakthrough solution, SVC Light® Enhanced¹, uses innovative power electronics to integrate the efficient reactive power compensation of SVC Light with supercapacitors, which are electronic devices that absorb and inject active power into the grid in milliseconds. SVC Light Enhanced is part of Grid-enSure™, a recently launched fully integrated portfolio that comprises leading-edge solutions based on power electronics and advanced control systems that safely protect grid stability, reliability, and power quality as the transition to renewable energy accelerates. Advanced features like Grid Forming Control provide significant improvements over previous solutions and make the technology less sensitive to future changes in the network.

The use of supercapacitors to provide active power capability not only supports grid stability but also offers project owners the possibility of offering inertia or grid stability services to the grid.

Located 69 kilometers (km) off the Yorkshire coast, Hornsea 4 secured a 2.4 GW Contract for Difference (CfD) from the Government in September 2024. The CfD mechanism guarantees a fixed price level for the electricity generated, providing revenue certainty and giving developers financial stability to progress viable projects. Final Investment Decision on the project is expected within the next 15 months with Commercial Operation Date (COD) currently planned for 2030.

Footnotes

1 https://www.hitachienergy.com/products-and-solutions/facts/statcom/svc-light-enhanced

About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We are advancing the world’s energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure and we collaborate with customers and partners to enable a sustainable energy future – for today’s generations and those to come. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries, serving customers in utility, industry, transportation, data centers and infrastructure sectors. With innovative technologies and services including the integration of more than 150 gigawatts of HVDC links into the power system, we help make the energy value chain more efficient, making electricity more accessible to all. Together with stakeholders across sectors and geographies, we enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 45,000 people in 60 countries and generate business volumes of around $13 billion USD.

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About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the 3 business sectors of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s revenues as 3 sectors for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totaled 8,564.3 billion yen, with 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.