German transmission system operator 50Hertz has awarded a contract to a consortium formed by Siemens Energy and Neptun Smulders Offshore Renewables (NSORe) to design, build and install the North Sea Connector 2 offshore grid connection system, aimed at integrating new offshore wind farms in the North Sea into the German electricity grid.

The project includes the construction of an offshore converter platform and an associated onshore converter station capable of transmitting up to 2 GW of offshore wind power, making it one of the first infrastructures developed under Germany’s new 2 GW offshore grid connection standard.

According to 50Hertz, this marks the first time that 2 GW offshore converter platforms will be built predominantly in Germany. Key structural components will be manufactured in Rostock-Warnemünde, in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The consortium will be responsible for the turnkey delivery of the project, including engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning. The onshore converter station will be located near Schwerin, while the offshore platform will be installed approximately 200 kilometers west of the island of Sylt in the North Sea.

Siemens Energy to supply HVDC technology

Siemens Energy will provide the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology, including transformers, converters and switchgear required to convert the alternating current generated by offshore wind turbines into direct current for efficient transmission to shore.

The company stated that around 95% of its project scope for North Sea Connector 2 will be delivered from Germany, with transformers and converters supplied from Nuremberg and SF?-free gas-insulated switchgear manufactured in Berlin.

In addition to supplying the technology, Siemens Energy has secured a long-term service agreement covering maintenance, IT services and operational support.

More than 500 jobs linked to the project

NSORe, a joint venture between Neptun Werft — part of the Meyer Werft Group — and Belgian steel construction company Smulders, will manufacture the offshore platform’s topside, which will house the electrical equipment.

The jacket foundation will be built by Smulders in the Netherlands before being integrated with the topside and installed in the North Sea.

According to 50Hertz, the contract is expected to create more than 500 long-term jobs in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania across the companies involved and their supply chains.

Second project could raise total contract value to €2.5 billion

At the same time, 50Hertz confirmed that it has started negotiations with NSORe for a second converter platform of similar scale for the North Sea Connector 1 project, which is also part of the NordOstLink transmission corridor.

If both projects move forward, the combined value for NSORe could reach approximately €2.5 billion, largely related to manufacturing and services carried out in Germany.

North Sea Connector 2 is scheduled to enter operation by the end of 2034, strengthening the infrastructure needed to support Germany’s offshore wind expansion targets and broader electrification strategy