2 GW Offshore and Onshore Converter System – North Sea Connector 2

Pursuant to §17d EnWG, transmission system operators must construct and operate offshore connections as defined in the German Grid Development Plan (NEP) and the Site Development Plan (FEP) according to §5 WindSeeG. In this context, 50Hertz is responsible for the offshore grid connection for the two offshore sites N-12.4 and N-12.5. The planned total generation capacity of the two offshore sites N-12.4 and N-12.5 amounts to 2 GW. Therefore, 50Hertz introduced the project NSC2 which will connect the two wind farm sites to the onshore grid. The grid connection system will be realised with 525 kV DC technology and a transmission capacity of 2 GW with a required Readiness-for-Trial-Operation in 03/2034.

NSC2 comprises the projects LanWin6 and DC32 and is integrated into the NordHub. The scope of all three projects is briefly described in the following.

The LanWin6 project (defined as project NOR-12-3 in the NEP) aims at the connection of the two offshore wind farm sites N-12.4 and N-12.5 via an offshore converter station and a DC sea and land cable connection to a Multiterminal Hub. The offshore wind farms will be connected via a 132 kV (AC) direct connection to the offshore converter station.

The Multiterminal Hub, to which LanWin6 is connected to, is planned in the Pöschendorf search area and is called NordHub. It will be designed as a 4-terminal hub, i.e. it will integrate the two converters of the NSC2 project and the two converters of the LanWin7 project (developed by German TSO TenneT to connect other offshore wind sites), respectively offshore and onshore, in a DC-switching station. The necessary MTDC technology standards, including but not limited to the HVDC system and control and protection requirements, are being developed in an ongoing ‘Innovation Partnership’ project of the four German TSOs with HVDC OEMs. This partnership aims at defining the basic design for the Multiterminal Hubs, prequalifying the required DC circuit breakers and providing the MTDC specifications. These specifications will outline the basic system requirements for multiterminal hub operation. The specifications will be available earliest in July 2025 and will therefore be made available to the Tenderer later in the Tender phase. Whereas the overall system in scope of the Tender is required to be fully MTDC-ready, the Multiterminal Hub as such is out of the scope of the Tender.

The NordHub will further be connected via a DC link to an onshore converter station near Mühlenbeck (near Schossin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). This subproject of the NSC2 is called DC32 (as defined in the NEP). In summary, the scope of the upcoming Tender covers the following two elements of the NSC2 project: (1) The Offshore Converter Station (part of LanWin6) (2) The Onshore Converter Station (part of DC32).

In addition to the EPCI Bid submission the following Service and Maintenance Agreements (SMA) are part of the Tender: - SMA for converter systems including but not limited to the DC converters, primary systems, auxiliary systems, OT & IT systems. - Option for the SMA for platform structure (above and below the water surface), auxiliary/ an-cillary systems (onshore and offshore station) such as but not limited to HVAC, cooling, fire-fighting/ detection, communication, water systems for technology and accommodation, res-cue and safety appliances, etc.

Further information regarding the tender scope is described in document "SCM.01.001-2GW_Project Introduction", which is directly available to applicants via the weblink mentioned under section 5.1.11 of the contract notice.

For getting access to the Ariba platform and later during the ITT-process, applicants are required to request the access to the tender platform by sending an e-mail to:

- Matthias Schäuble via email MatthiasWolfgang.Schaeuble@50hertz.com or - Viacheslav Shalaginov via email viacheslav.shalaginov@50hertz.com.

Please provide following information in the email: - Name of the candidate (and for legal entities, including the company form); - Address of the candidate; - VAT number of the candidate; - Information of the contact person/contact persons for the tender (name, e-mail address and telephone number).

Information to access the tender on the Ariba platform will be provided by e-mail as soon as possible. Candidates are advised to request this access as soon as possible and to click on ‘intend to participate’ in Ariba in order to receive possible clarifications from the contracting entity. The Candidates must submit by the closing date (see section 5.1.12) the selection questionnaire (SQ) with the most current available data together with the requested documents. Contracting Entity doesn’t guarantee to provide the Ariba login details before closing time for candidates requesting their access to Ariba less than 48 hours before closing time. The Candidates is solely responsible for requesting the access to the tender on the Ariba platform on time. The contracting entity declines any responsibility in the event of problems with the Ariba platform. Any application not sent correctly via Ariba will be rejected.

The manuals for usage of E-Sourcing (Ariba) can be found via the following URL: http://www.elia.be/en/suppliers/information-and-tools-for-suppliers#ariba