24th May 2024 in Community News
Are you interested in renewable energy and eager to discover careers in this dynamic sector? Dogger Bank, set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, has teamed up with renowned charity Speakers for Schools to offer a unique virtual work experience. This initiative aims to provide students and young professionals with an insightful glimpse into the exciting world of renewable energy careers, all from the comfort of their own homes or classrooms.
Participants will gain invaluable insights from industry experts, engage in interactive sessions, and discover various career paths within renewable energy. ZEST, who provide electric vehicle charging solutions, and one yet to be announced renewable energy business, will also attend the session to give you everything you need to know to get involved in the UK’s green future!
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is currently under construction over 130 km from the UK coastline and will power up to six million UK homes each year once complete. The wind farm will operate for a planned 35 years, creating a variety of unique jobs, including skilled turbine technicians, control room coordinators, electrical engineers, and environmental consultants who will all work together to harness clean energy and ensure a sustainable future.
Once complete, Dogger Bank will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The sessions will take place between 10th – 12th July and can be easily accessed from any internet connected device. The deadline for applications is June 19th, 2024. Don’t miss this chance to power up your career in renewable energy with Dogger Bank and Speakers for Schools!
To apply, simply visit the application page here.
21st May 2024 in Community News
The importance of biodiversity is becoming increasingly recognised as vital to the health, wealth and happiness of our communities. The team at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery and adjoining Whitby Marine Discovery Centre is pleased to announce Dogger Bank and Sofia offshore wind farm projects have continued to pledge support for the project, which is committed to safeguarding lobster populations.
Aiming to release 100,000 juvenile lobsters back into the sea, the team at Whitby Lobster Hatchery is committed to ensuring the seas are sustainable and rich in diversity for years to come.
Operating under the charity name of North Sea Conservation, the team has high ambitions to provide the best opportunity for the coastline to remain healthy and productive. Working alongside its impressive potting fleet which boasts the 3rd largest catches in Europe, the fishing community bring ‘berried’ egg bearing female lobsters into the hatchery.
When the eggs hatch the hatchery team then provides everything the tiny lobster larvae need to give them the best chance to survive. After around 8 weeks of care in the hatchery the juvenile lobsters are released back into the sea.
The recently opened Marine Discovery Centre (on Whitby’s Peir Road), aims to provide a unique visitor experience, showcasing native marine biodiversity and providing a great opportunity for young and old to learn about fisheries, marine wildlife and the work of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery.
The support from the wind farm projects goes directly to supporting the work of both the Whitby Lobster Hatchery and the Marine Discovery centre, helping the project to deliver on its key aims of conservation, education and research.
Both wind farms are located on the Dogger Bank area of seabed, more than 80 miles from the north-east coast of England, with their export cables coming ashore on Teesside, between Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea. Sofia is 100% owned by RWE, and Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn. Offshore wind farms such as these will not only provide renewable energy and boost national energy security but also there’s an opportunity for windfarms to provide biodiversity benefit for oceans too.
General Manager of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, Joe Redfern said:
“We have always had high ambitions from the impact our project can have on the marine environment. The support we have received from both offshore projects has been a huge help in starting to realise those ambitions. We are really grateful for their support and are glad to be working with them into the future.”.
16th May 2024 in Community News
- The scholarship fund supports students pursuing courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Scholarships are available to students in South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and East Riding of Yorkshire.
- 30 scholarships, each worth £5,000, will be offered this year to assist with educational expenses, as a component of a broader community fund initiative.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is pleased to announce the opening of the fourth round of scholarships, part of its commitment to support local communities. The scholarships provide financial support to students from South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and East Riding of Yorkshire studying (STEM) courses at undergraduate level.
30 scholarships will be available in 2024 to students from these three areas to help with the cost of undergraduate level courses. The scholarships are a crucial component of Dogger Bank’s broader community fund initiative, which aims to support young people preparing for working life in a net zero world.
The wind farm has already supported 62 local students to date, helping students to focus on their studies by reducing the financial pressure of education. Physics, medicine, and robotics are just some of the subjects scholars have undertaken – something Dogger Bank is proud to have supported.
Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager from Dogger Bank Wind Farm said:
“We know that the cost of living is putting more pressure on students, so we are delighted to be able to offer direct support through our fund and enable students to focus on their studies. We all benefit from young people developing skills in STEM and this fund makes sure that more young people will feel able to make the choice to enter higher education.”
Castor Scott, Electrical Engineering and Electronics student from South Tyneside said:
“Receiving this scholarship is not just a financial blessing; it is a vote of confidence in my potential and a testament to the importance of education. This scholarship will significantly alleviate the financial burden of pursuing my academic goals, allowing me to focus more on my studies and extracurricular activities.”
Paul Thomas, Mechanical Engineering student from Redcar and Cleveland said:
“The scholarship offered me great support during my study, allowing myself to fully concentrate on studying and worry less about financial burdens of education.
The result of my study has been very positive since graduation 11 months ago and has helped me move position in my employment.”
Millie Brazier, Medical student from East Riding of Yorkshire said:
“I am extremely grateful to have received this scholarship. Not only will it allow me to pursue my studies in medicine but it will make taking an intercalation year, to study and research new and developing technology, more possible. I think it’s fantastic that a local business has taken interest in supporting local students enter the world of STEM and feel so lucky to be one of them.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located more than 130km from the North East coast and will generate enough renewable electricity to power six million UK homes. The project is a joint venture between Equinor, SSE Renewables, and Vårgrønn. SSE Renewables is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years. Vårgrønn brings offshore wind expertise to the project.
The wind farm, being built in three phases named A, B, and C, will connect to the National grid in East Riding of Yorkshire and in Teesside. The operations and maintenance base for the wind farm is in South Shields and will be used throughout its 35-year operational lifespan.
You can apply for the scholarship programme here.
Picture caption: Castor Scott, Electrical Engineering and Electronics student at Northumbria University.
13th March 2024 in Community News, Project news
An innovative programme which challenged South Tyneside youngsters to use their imagination to find new ways of harnessing renewable energy has taken first place in the STEM Initiative category of a national awards scheme.
The South Tyneside and Beyond programme, which was delivered by Little Inventors in partnership with South Tyneside Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm, was awarded the top spot at The Engineer magazine’s Collaborate to Innovate Awards.
The programme saw over 3,000 children take part in an ‘invention challenge’, which encouraged the youngsters to expand their skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) by broadening their knowledge of renewable energy and how it can be used to bring about positive change for the planet.
Year 4 pupils came up with a wide range of creative ideas, including a ‘turtle motorway, an ‘auto shivering device’ and ‘wind mirrors’ which use propellors on car wing mirrors to capture enough energy to power the radio and sat nav – a design that was shortlisted in the Young Innovator category.
To give credence to the creations, the best designs were transformed into prototypes by industry partners and put on display at The Word in South Shields.
Cllr Jane Carter, Lead Member for Education and Skills, said: “South Tyneside has a burgeoning ‘green’ sector but it is vital that our young people know about the skills that will be needed in the future to secure these high-quality jobs.
“This project has demonstrated the tangible value that collaboration between education and industry can bring for all concerned. It has shown how creativity and imagination can be used to solve real-world problems, while also raising the aspirations, knowledge and confidence of our young people.”
The second year of the project is now underway with a programme of school-based workshops where young people can learn more STEM subjects, using Dogger Bank – currently the world’s largest offshore wind farm being built off the North East coastline – as inspiration.
Craig Bright from Little Inventors said: “We take young people’s ideas from all around the world seriously, and to have the opportunity to make a difference to the wonderful little inventors in South Tyneside in collaboration with South Tyneside Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm was such a fantastic experience. We’re absolutely thrilled that the efforts of everybody involved have been recognised with this award.”
Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager at Equinor – one of the industry partners in the project – added: “The Powering the Future programme really benefits from the trust it puts in young people to have amazing and innovative ideas, as seen in the brilliant Wind Mirrors invention by nine-year old Isaac from Cleadon. It’s this creative drive that we hope will inspire young people to embrace STEM in education and as a future career, especially in renewable energy.”
7th March 2024 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
Primary school children are being challenged to create an energy-themed superhero story as part of a competition launched by Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its partners in Redcar and Cleveland.
The 500-word challenge is being launched on World Book Day 2024, to inspire young people to learn about where energy comes from, and how it’s used as a positive force in the world.
In their stories the schoolchildren will create an “energy superhero” which uses its superpowers to save the day.
The competition is part of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm-funded Building our Futures programme, which aims to embed careers education into every primary school in Redcar and Cleveland through engaging workshops supported by local employers.
The programme is being delivered by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) with strategic support and guidance from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
“More than 750 children from over 30 schools have taken part in Building Our Futures workshops since we launched the programme last year,” said programme manager for the RCVDA, Jacqui Hutchinson.
“Children have been inspired by real-life workplace representatives from Dogger Bank’s supply chain and wider local businesses, with pupils experiencing first-hand accounts of careers in a diverse range of industries.
“The book competition will enable young people to use their creative side to express their thoughts about the role different forms of energy play in our lives, and why it’s important to understand where this energy comes from.
“We can’t wait to see our bright, enquiring young people bring their net zero heroes to life.”
The World Book Day competition is being supported by Dogger Bank Wind Farm construction contractor Keltbray, Teesside University, Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency and BBC Tees.
Dogger Bank Wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn. The wind farm is being built 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast, and will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it’s fully commissioned in 2026.
The north and north-east of England are playing a critical role in the delivery and operation of the wind farm, and more than 2,000 UK based roles have been created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of the wind farm.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will transmit renewable energy via national electricity network substations in East Riding of Yorkshire, and at Lackenby on Teesside.
The wind farm’s operation and maintenance base is located at Port of Tyne, and the Able Seaton port near Hartlepool is being used by the project’s turbine manufacturer for carrying out pre-assembly work on the turbines during the construction programme.
Primary schools can enter the World Book Day competition at World Book Day Competition – Building our Future – RCVDA
April 12 is the closing date for entries. Authors of the winning books will receive a book voucher and the chance for their class to visit Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s operation and maintenance base at Port of Tyne.
