The transmission and distribution arm of French technology firm Areva has won a € 21 million contract to design, supply, install and commission the onshore and offshore substations for the Robin Rigg East and Robin Rigg West wind farms under development off the Scottish coast. The contract was placed by E.ON UK.
The project is due to start full commercial operation early in 2009 and will require the construction of an onshore substation at Seaton in the North of England, to connect the two wind farms to the 132 kV distribution network. In addition, two high-voltage offshore substations will be installed on monopiles in the Solway Firth, the estuary that separates Scotland from England, approximately 12 km from the English coast.
The move comes as Areva announces the acquisition of Italian company Passoni & Villa, a manufacturer of high-voltage bushings. The acquisition process should be completed by the end of March.
