B.3.2 Auxiliary systems

Function

Auxiliary systems are facilities that support the operation and maintenance of the substation and enable some wider wind farm maintenance activities.

What it costs*

About £13 million for a 1 GW wind farm.

Who supplies them

Building monitoring systems (fire and gas detection, CCTV, access, security) suppliers include 

• Communications and networking: Atos, Cisco, Cobham Wireless, Motorola and Semco Maritime.
• Crane: Demag, Granada and Kenz Figee.
• Diesel generator: Aggreko, Caterpillar, Iveco, Midas and Mitsubishi.
• Fire and blast protection: Mech-Tools (steel) and Solent Composite Systems (composites).
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning: Heinen & Hopman and Oteac.
• Helicopter fuelling systems: Imenco.

Supply of general facilities is often local to assembly of the substation.

Key facts

Like any other complex industrial facility, this offshore building needs fire detection and suppression systems along with security, safety, communications, and other monitoring systems.

Fire and blast protection is required because the transformers contain oil and coolants and present a fire risk. They need to be protected from fires elsewhere on the platform.

A standby generator is required to provide auxiliary power and lighting in the event of loss of connection to the onshore substation and to provide power to restart and reconnect to the onshore substation.

Also required are a control room, health and welfare and refuge for visiting crews, clean and black water systems, fuel tanks, LV power supplies, navigational aids, and safety systems.

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What’s in it

• Auxiliary electrical systems
• Monitoring systems
• Communication system
• Fire and blast protection systems
• Standby generator (normally for HVDC substations)
• Crane
• Control room & refuge
• Clean and black water systems (normally for HVDC substations)
• Fuel tanks (normally for HVDC substations)
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment