A major heavy-lift operation has been successfully completed at the Stormpolder yard, as part of the construction process for the Jasmund offshore substation, moving the project closer to its commissioning for German grid operator 50Hertz Transmission GmbH.
The lift involved installing the high-voltage transformer—one of the most critical components for any offshore substation. Weighing hundreds of tonnes and requiring millimeter-accurate positioning, the operation was carried out by the HSI consortium, a joint venture between HSM Offshore Energy BV, Smulders, and Iv. According to project insiders, this kind of operation is not just about brute strength—it’s about precision, coordination, and experience.
The transformer lift, performed at the HSM Offshore Energy fabrication yard in Stormpolder, South Holland, involved detailed planning across multiple engineering teams. From weather windows and rigging calculations to real-time communication between crane operators and ground teams, every element had to align for the operation to succeed without delays or safety incidents.
Offshore substations like the Jasmund OHVS (Offshore High Voltage Station) serve as the nerve centers of offshore wind farms, collecting and converting power from wind turbines before feeding it into the onshore grid. The Jasmund substation will eventually support 50Hertz’s plans for increased offshore capacity in the Baltic Sea, part of Germany’s wider push for energy transition.
An HSM Offshore Energy spokesperson described the successful lift as “a key moment in delivering what will be a major asset in Germany’s renewable energy infrastructure.” The collaboration with Smulders and Iv underscores the integrated nature of today’s offshore construction efforts, where each partner brings a unique specialty—whether it’s topside fabrication, structural engineering, or electrical integration.
Every stage of the transformer lift, from preparation to securing the equipment in place, reflected tight scheduling and coordination that’s typical in offshore logistics. These operations are unforgiving; a delayed lift or unexpected weather shift can have domino effects across the entire supply chain.
For industry professionals, it’s another reminder of the complexity behind offshore renewables. Behind every turbine spinning in the wind is a supply chain of project logistics, fabrication yards, and carefully executed lifts like this one—where planning meets steel, and timing is everything.
