Ørsted Advances Grid Link for 2.9 GW Hornsea 3 with 272-Tonne Transformer Deliveries
Ørsted has initiated the high-voltage substation integration phase for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, signaling a major transition from civil engineering to electrical fit-outs at its 49-acre Swardeston converter station.
A series of deliveries from the Port of King's Lynn has brought the first of nine 272-tonne transformers to the site, providing the core voltage-stepping infrastructure needed to anchor the 2.9 GW project. Moving via the A47, the massive main bodies are being positioned on reinforced concrete bays. These units are vital components of the site's dual-link converter topology, designed to step down electricity delivered via 350 km of subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) export cables before converting the current to AC for National Grid injection.
The technical deployment coordinates closely with broader system progress across the mega-project. All civil and deep structural works for the substation buildings, drainage, and earthing networks are complete, allowing contractors to finish pulling high-voltage cables directly into the site's valve halls. High-voltage cable jointing and component installation within the AC yard are progressing in lockstep with the transformer placements. Once the remaining units complete their scheduled transport routes through July 2026, the Swardeston facility will initiate comprehensive cable testing, cooler and reactor integration, and valve hall commissioning ahead of full wind farm energization.
Source: BBC, Ørsted
