Aker Solutions secures key contract for the BalWin 1 wind project

Aker Solutions has signed a contract with Dragados Offshore to manufacture the steel substructure for the HVDC converter station of the BalWin 1 project in Germany. This 2 GW project is being developed for the Amprion Offshore GmbH grid.

Share:

Aker Solutions, a Norwegian company specializing in engineering and construction, has been selected by Dragados Offshore to deliver the steel structure for the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore converter station of the BalWin 1 project. This project, intended for Germany, is being developed by Amprion Offshore GmbH as part of an infrastructure plan to strengthen renewable energy transmission.

A strategic contract for Aker Solutions

The contract includes the construction of the steel substructure for the 2 GW offshore HVDC converter station, along with an option for a similar structure for the BalWin 2 project. Together, these two projects represent a total transmission capacity of 4 GW, equivalent to the power supply of a large metropolis such as Berlin.

With this agreement, Aker Solutions strengthens its position in the offshore energy infrastructure sector. The company will utilize its Verdal, Norway, shipyard for the fabrication of the substructures. According to the agreement, procurement preparation and method engineering will commence immediately, while construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with deliveries expected in 2028 and 2029.

Industrial implications and employment impact

The fabrication of the HVDC substructures will require the mobilization of more than 500 employees at the peak of the work. This phase involves several key activities, including method engineering, procurement management, and the assembly of steel structures.

For Aker Solutions, this order will be recorded as order intake in the Renewables and Field Development segment in the first quarter of 2025, excluding the value of potential options. The company leverages its expertise in managing large-scale projects to ensure controlled execution within the required deadlines.

Progress for the German offshore grid

Amprion Offshore GmbH, the transmission system operator responsible for these infrastructures, aims to accelerate the development of Germany’s offshore electrical grid. The HVDC stations for the BalWin 1 and 2 projects will enable efficient connection of offshore renewable energy production to the onshore grid, reducing transmission losses over long distances.

Through this project, Dragados Offshore and Aker Solutions reaffirm their commitment to delivering high-tech infrastructure while meeting the growing demands of the European market for high-voltage electricity transmission.

Ecopetrol S.A. finalises the acquisition of Wind Autogeneración from Enel S.A.S., thereby taking over the Windpeshi wind project in Colombia, with a planned capacity of 205 MW, aimed at the Colombian oil group's energy self-consumption.
Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. and Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. secured an exclusive investigative use permit in the Hecate Strait, paving the way for Canada's first major offshore wind project, targeting capacity of up to 700 MW.
German manufacturer Nordex will supply 13 N163/6.X wind turbines to developer SAB WindTeam for a 91 MW wind farm in Brandenburg, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027 and an extended 20-year service agreement.
EDF is delaying the start-up of the Calvados offshore wind farm by more than two years, citing extended adjustments to a drilling tool vital for installing the sixty-four monopile foundations off Courseulles-sur-Mer.
German company NeXtWind signs historic €1.4 billion debt financing to accelerate expansion and modernisation of its onshore wind farms and reach a total capacity of 3 GW by 2028.
Energy company TGS has won a major high-resolution geophysical imaging contract for offshore wind site characterization in Norway, strengthening its position in this rapidly growing market.
Iberdrola Australia secures crucial approval from Australian authorities to begin metocean studies for its 3GW Aurora Green offshore project off the coast of Victoria, marking a decisive stage in its development.
ENGIE begins full operation of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Egypt, increasing its capacity to 650 MW, four months ahead of schedule, now powering over one million homes in the region.
Tokyo Gas, through TOWII Renewables, a joint venture with EWII, purchases two onshore wind projects developed by Finnish company Puhuri, totalling 74.4 MW, marking its expansion beyond the Danish market.
The European Investment Bank grants EWE AG historic €450mn financing for the installation of 2,600 km of underground power lines and the upgrade of over 1,100 substations in Lower Saxony.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a strategic partnership to develop local offshore wind supply chains and strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness in this energy sector.
Energiekontor AG confirms financial close for the Nartum wind farm, adding 23 megawatts to its owned portfolio and starting the construction phase in the Rotenburg district, Lower Saxony.
Airloom Energy begins construction of a pilot site in Wyoming to test an innovative turbine aimed at enhancing American energy security in the face of anticipated growth in electricity demand.
ACCIONA Energía transfers the San Juan de Marcona wind farm to Luz del Sur S.A.A., a major player in Peru's energy sector, for up to USD 253 million, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
German operator Encavis AG strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind farms in Lower Saxony and Saxony, totalling 59 MW, in a transaction with Energiequelle GmbH, thereby expanding its renewable energy assets.
Ocergy officially launches an industrial project aiming to install by 2028 a new-generation floating wind turbine of over 15 MW, in partnership with EnBW, Kyuden Mirai, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.
Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.