31st January 2022 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
The jack-up vessel that will enter service for the first time to install the turbines on Dogger Bank Wind Farm has been officially launched.
Jan De Nul’s Voltaire will play a critical role in the installation of 277 GE Haliade-X turbines in the North Sea, more than 130km off the Yorkshire coast of England.
With a lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes and a deck space equal to a football pitch, the ship is the largest of its kind in the world.
The next generation vessel was launched at the COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China.
Steve Wilson, Dogger Bank Project Director, said:
“We congratulate Jan De Nul on successfully launching its unrivalled Jack up Vessel, the Voltaire. This impressive installation vessel will play a critical role in the construction of all three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm when it enters service, demonstrating an innovative engineering solution to the growing challenge presented by larger and more technically demanding wind farms.”
Dogger Bank wind farm agreed a contract with Jan De Nul for the transport and installation of turbines for the first two phases of the wind farm in 2019, with the Dogger Bank C contract following on last year.
The Voltaire will be able to run on second-generation biodiesel that reduces its fuel carbon footprint by up to 90%, and is also equipped with an advanced dual exhaust filter system, removing up to 99% of nanoparticles from emissions.
The launch of this environmentally-innovative vessel came just 20 days after Jan De Nul launched its Les Alizés ship to serve the growing demand from current and future wind farm projects.
Philippe Hutse, Director Offshore Division at Jan De Nul Group, said:
“The Voltaire will enable us to work in deeper waters and reach ever higher nacelle heights than before. Adding Voltaire and Les Alizés to the fleet gives us the perfect set of vessels to execute the growing number of large and clustered international offshore wind projects. Our forward-looking view on market trends and the quick decision making to invest in this set of Next Gen installation vessels, have done us no harm. The Voltaire and Les Alizés have all the required specifications to meet the upcoming challenges in offshore renewables. We are proud to be recognised for the choices we made back in 2019, and look forward to continuing our journey, alongside industry leaders, through our contribution to renewable energy growth in the worldwide energy transition.”
22nd December 2021 in Project news, Supply Chain
Steel manufactured in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is set to play a role in the foundations that will support the world’s largest offshore Wind Farm.
Sif and Smulders were awarded contracts to provide the monopiles and transition pieces for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm in November 2020, with Dogger Bank C awarded a year later.
They have since awarded subcontracts to South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada to work on this world-leading project, with an order now placed with Tata Steel to help shape the transition pieces.
Steel made in Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site and processed into hollow sections at the company’s Corby and Hartlepool sites, will help form the supporting components of the transition pieces to be used in the fist two phases of the wind farm.
Sandip Biswas, Chairman of the Board of Tata Steel UK, said:
“We are proud to be able to help support UK jobs and manufacturing through this project.
“Huge amounts of steel will be needed to help the UK achieve its net-zero goals – to build everything from renewable energy and low-CO2 transportation to hydrogen production and distribution.
“At the same time, we have targets for our own decarbonisation as a steelmaker. Our own transition to a decarbonised future will rely on a secure supply of competitively priced renewable energy – whether that be to create hydrogen for future steelmaking or power new low-CO2 furnaces. The more we can help in delivering these landmark projects the better.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said:
“This is another great example of how we’re taking advantage of UK skills and expertise to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Our transition pieces are among the largest to be installed on an offshore wind farm, and this UK-manufactured steel will form some of the supporting components.
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is already creating or supporting more than 3,000 jobs in the UK supply chain, and giving companies the chance to work on a pioneering project which will help them become increasingly competitive as the world adapts to produce energy that doesn’t cost the earth.”
21st December 2021 in Project news, Supply Chain
Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has won another contract to work on the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The North Wales-based civil engineering company will deliver trenching, duct installation and joint bays for the 2km connection between the converter station for the third phase of the wind farm, near Redcar, and the National Grid infrastructure at Lackenby on Teesside. The initial work is expected to begin in March 2023.
Jones Bros is already installing more than 80 miles of cable for the first two phases of the wind farm in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The team was also appointed to deliver the enabling works package for the onshore convertor station platforms for the third phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, in a joint contract with neighbouring Sofia Offshore Wind Farm. Jones Bros has been engaged by RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, to manage the works on behalf of both Sofia and Dogger Bank C to minimise disruption to those living or working near the site.
Contracts director for Jones Bros, Eryl Roberts, said: “As this will follow on from construction of converter station infrastructure for the same project, we will benefit from a considerable body of local knowledge built up in recent years.
“As well as this, we will be able to continue to invest in the North East’s regional economy, including working with subcontractors from the area, as well as sustaining apprenticeships.
“The lengthy lead-in gives us a relatively long design period to develop and implement new and innovative solutions for the scheme in partnership with the client.
“This will include plans to minimise disruption. The route passes across a number of key roads such as the A1053, so this will mean conducting horizontal drilling in addition to the trench digging that will be used for the majority of the distance.”
Dogger Bank C Onshore Package Manager, Stephen Reynolds, said:
“Building on the work already underway on the first phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Jones Bros will now play a vital role in helping connect the windfarm to the National Grid infrastructure for the third phase.
“We look forward to extending our relationship with this UK-based firm, as we continue to build this record-breaking windfarm.”
Jones Bros is one of a number of UK-based firms to secure contracts on the world’s largest offshore wind farm, which will provide renewable energy for 6 million UK homes on completion in 2026. To date, more than 3,000 UK roles have been created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Darlington-based Tekmar Energy became the latest firm to join the wind farm’s supply chain, after securing its largest-ever contract with Dogger Bank’s tier one supplier, DEME offshore. Part of the Tekmar Group, the company will design, manufacture and supply Generation 10 TekTube CPS to protect subsea inter array cables on the first two phases of the wind farm, Dogger Bank A and B, with a future option for Dogger Bank C.
17th December 2021 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Contract will support 170 jobs at the Darlington-based firm and more in the company’s UK supply chain.
- More than 3,000 UK jobs now created or supported by construction and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Tekmar Energy Limited has won its largest ever cable protection system (CPS) contract to support the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The Darlington-based provider of technology and services for the global offshore energy markets, secured a contract with Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s tier one contractor, DEME Offshore.
Part of the Tekmar Group, the company will design, manufacture and supply Generation 10 TekTube CPS to protect subsea inter array cables on the first two phases of the wind farm, Dogger Bank A and B, with a future option for Dogger Bank C.
All systems will be manufactured at Tekmar’s state-of-the-art facility in the north-east of England, supporting 170 jobs and further roles in Tekmar’s 100% UK-based supply chain.
Gary Howland, Tekmar Group Sales Director, said:
“As a company headquartered in the north-east of England, we are extremely proud to play a part in this hugely significant project for the region and look forward to working with DEME Offshore to successfully deliver the project.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director Steve Wilson, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome this leading north-east manufacturer to the supply chain for the world’s largest offshore wind farm. To secure this contract on our ground-breaking development, Tekmar has demonstrated world-class capability and expertise. With more than 3,000 UK jobs now associated with the construction and operation of the wind farm, we can say with certainty that with the right support and the right opportunities, our offshore wind supply chain here in the UK is becoming increasingly globally-competitive.”
Due to its size and scale, Dogger Bank is being built in three consecutive 1.2GW phases; Dogger Bank A, Dogger Bank B and Dogger Bank C. In total the wind farm is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply 5% of the UK’s demand, equivalent to powering six million homes.
16th December 2021 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- 250 km of inter-array cable to be installed at third phase of world’s biggest offshore wind farm .
16 December 2021: Dogger Bank Wind Farm has signed an EPCI contract with DEME Offshore for the inter-array cables at the 1.2GW Dogger Bank C phase of what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Today’s announcement follows the earlier award of the Dogger bank A and B inter-array cable contract to DEME in early 2021.
The scope of this new EPCI agreement includes the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the subsea cables for the 1.2 GW phase of the wind farm. DEME Offshore will supply, install and protect approximately 250 km of 66 kV inter-array cables and all related accessories.
Production of the cables for Dogger Bank C is set to start in 2023. The cables will be installed in 2025 and DEME will once again be deploying its DP3 cable installation vessel ‘Living Stone’. Living Stone boasts an inhouse designed dual-lane system, consisting of two cable highways – this allows cable laying using one lane whilst the next cable can be simultaneously prepared and have the cable protection system (CPS) installed on the other lane. As previously demonstrated, this significantly reduces the time needed for preparing the cables, minimises manual handling, increases the vessel’s workability and ultimately, improves production rates.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located more than 130km off the north-east coast of England and is currently being delivered by joint venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni. The wind farm is being developed in three 1.2 GW phases, A, B and C. Upon completion, Dogger Bank will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm and will generate energy to power 6 million homes every year.
Bart De Poorter, General Manager of DEME Offshore commented: “
After securing the Dogger Bank A and B inter-array cable contract earlier this year, we are proud to now also confirm the inter-array cable contract for Dogger Bank C. This contract not only demonstrates the unrivalled cable-laying capabilities by our DEME Offshore team, it is also further testament to the stellar reputation of our DP3 cable installation vessel ‘Living Stone’.”
Simon Bailey, Commercial Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm said:
“We are delighted to award the contract for the supply, installation and protection of the inter-array cables at Dogger Bank C to DEME Offshore, extending our existing relationship with DEME on phases A and B to the third phase of this project. This will ensure continued synergies across the construction activities of the offshore wind farm, including the deployment of DEME’s state-of-the-art cable installation vessel ‘Living Stone’ which will install the almost 250 km of 66 kV inter-array cables required to connect Dogger Bank C’s offshore turbines.”
Dogger Bank A and B is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%). On 2 November 2021 SSE and Equinor announced the sell down of a combined 20% share in Dogger Bank C to Eni (10% each). The transaction is expected to close in Q1 2022, subject to regulatory and lenders approvals and customary purchase price adjustments. Eni will enter the asset effective from completion of the sell down transaction. Once the transaction is complete, the new overall shareholding in Dogger Bank C will be SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%).
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