Major transformer station project for TenneT completed

A transformer station that was no longer sufficient for the rapidly increasing feed-in of renewable energies and therefore had to be replaced. In addition to that, it is located at one of the most important energy junctions for the north-south connection. The SCIO Automation was involved in this major project for the customer TenneT TSO GmbH at the transformer station Wilster-West in North-Germany. It took four years until the old plant was completely disconnected from the grid and the new extra-high voltage switchgear could be put on stream.

The million-euro project is considered the core of the German energy transformation center:

Source: TenneT, shortened version (in German)

The existing 380 kV switchgear at the transformer station Wilster-West had reached its capacity limit. Moreover, the important energy hub should be able to receive and distribute the future transmission capacity of NordLink, SuedLink, the West Coastline, the central axis and the offshore connections in the North Sea. TenneT TSO GmbH therefore decided to renew the switchgear and brought SCIO’s group company VESCON Energy into the project. The two companies have already been working together for 17 years.

SCIO’s service segment “Energy” is specialized in the high and maximum voltage environment. It conducted the complete electrical assembly for this major project. The SCIO Group initially planned the primary technology and provisional arrangements for the primary technical construction of the high and maximum voltage stations. In the secondary technical expansion, it carried out cabling work as well as the installation and connection of all control, protection and general plant components such as auxiliary power and transmission technology. A 380kV switchgear with a triple busbar, designed for up to 8,000A, was installed. The new switchgear covers an area of 18 hectares, which is the same as 25 football pitches. The SCIO rebuilt the plant and created the connection to the distribution network of SH-Netz with two large transformers.

"A challenge in the implementation of the project was certainly that the existing plant was already an important north-south junction. The new construction therefore had to take place without any significant interruption of the north-south connections. For that reason, we initially installed several 380kV temporary installations. In doing so, we were able to ensure that operations continued almost without interruption," says Olaf Baumgartel, Head of Service Segment Energy, explaining the complexity of the project.

Over the years, around 100 employees of SCIO and subcontractors coordinated by us have been involved in the renewal. At the beginning of October 2020, the new transformer station Wilster-West was commissioned by TenneT. The next order is already in line for the SCIO Group: The 110kV system of the SH-Netz at the Wilster site is also to be expanded.

Technical project data:

• Switchgear with 31 fields triple 380kV busbar
  2x 380kV cross coupling
  8x 380kV line fields
  2x 380kV cable fields
  3x 380kV transformer panels
  2x 380/110/30kV transformers
  1x 380/20kV transformer
  4 fields double 110kV busbar
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