MTU engines for UK offshore wind platforms

Rolls-Royce received a second order from Eureka Pumps AS to supply mtu Series 4000 engines to power emergency power generators for the Norfolk Offshore Wind Farm, located 50 to 80 km off the east coast of the United Kingdom. With a total capacity of 4.2 GW, the wind farm, operated by energy supplier RWE, is expected to generate electricity for more than four million households during the course of this decade.

The emergency power generators are based on the 20-cylinder mtu Series 4000 P63 engines, each with an output of 2,600 kWe. (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce will supply a total of four MTU engines for the first and second phases of the wind farm, with the engines installed on two converter platforms at sea and onshore. The converter platforms ensure that the electricity generated at sea can be fed into the power grid.

The emergency power generators based on the 20-cylinder mtu Series 4000 P63 engines, each with an output of 2,600 kWe, will ensure that the power supply on the converter platforms remains stable even if the main power supply fails. They also ensure that control and monitoring systems continue to operate; that the infrastructure of the service crew quarters is maintained; and that lighting and other safety-critical systems do not fail.

In addition, the generators will supply power for cooling and ventilation of important system components to prevent damage from overheating. In extreme cases, the emergency power generators enable the systems to be shut down and restarted in a controlled manner.

“The engines have to be extremely reliable because they are the piece of the puzzle that matters when it comes down to it,” explained Detlev Köster, sales manager in the Offshore business at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. “We are delighted that Eureka Pumps is continuing to rely on our products in project phase 2.”