6th April 2023 in Community News, Press releases
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting local communities and enhancing the local environment, Dogger Bank Wind Farm has donated 60 bird boxes to schools across East Riding of Yorkshire during the project’s construction phase.
The nest boxes, complete with a supply of bird food for one season and 10 with cameras to enable enhanced learning, have been strategically placed around the schools’ grounds and are designed to provide safe and secure nesting sites for a variety of bird species, including blue tits, sparrows, and other common garden birds.
Students will have the opportunity to observe the wildlife and learn more about their behaviours and habitats. By providing these new homes, the project also hopes to encourage the local bird population and promote biodiversity.
Westfield Primary School in Cottingham, one of the ten schools allocated with a camera nest box, is currently in the process of setting up a monitoring team to capture and share activity inside the box, offering students opportunities for hands-on learning and engaging in real-world issues. Over the last few year the school caretaker has helped to develop an outdoor learning space, including building areas for nature to thrive – the bird boxes provide a tangible way to see the positive impact they can have on the environment.
Science Coordinator at Westfield Primary School, Mrs Bailey, said:
“’Westfield are very grateful for the bird box and camera. It would be fantastic if birds’ nest inside – what an amazing experience it would be for the children.”
The project has been met with enthusiasm by both students and staff alike. Students at Westfield were shown the live feed direct from the nest box and said:
“We are really excited about seeing the birds going in and out of the box and to see if any eggs will hatch.”
The bird boxes will be erected over Easter and placed outside their year 2 classroom.
Rachel Lawrence, Community Engagement Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“We’re delighted to be able to offer these nest boxes to East Riding schools to enhance their learning, and as part of our commitment to protect and enhance wildlife during the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is investing £1 million in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education during the construction of the wind farm, and we hope this donation will further enhance this STEM learning by enabling children to experience wildlife conservation in their school environment.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion.
The wind farm is being built in three phases known as Dogger Bank A, B and C. Dogger Bank A and B will connect the national electricity network between Beverley and Cottingham in East Riding, while Dogger Bank C will connect to the network at Lackenby in the Tees Valley.
Work to install more than 80 miles of underground high voltage cables from our landfall site at Ulrome, south of Bridlington, to our onshore convertor station near Beverley was in completed in late 2022, with some minor works ongoing at the converter station and landfall.
Work continues on the construction of our two East Riding convertor stations, as well as the installation of cables from the convertor station to the National Grid substation at Creyke Beck.
The first phase of the wind farm will start to produce power for UK homes and businesses this summer, with all three phases due to reach full power by 2026.
In June 2021, the wind farm unveiled plans for a £1 million construction fund across its key communities to help young people prepare for a Net Zero world, with all 124 East Riding primary schools being given an opportunity to increase and expand their STEM provision. The programme includes a significant investment in science, technology, engineering and maths provision, university scholarships as well as an operators fund to support local causes.
Picture caption: Westfield Primary School students Lily Austin (left), William Palmer (right) pictured with Dogger Bank Wind Farm donated nest box.
20th March 2023 in Community News, Operations
A South Shields primary school choir sang at the official opening of the operations and maintenance base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm at the Port of Tyne.
St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, which is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, attended the opening on behalf of the borough.
Jenny Parker, deputy headteacher and music lead at the primary school, said: “As a school situated in Tyne Dock, it has been wonderful to be involved in such an exciting event taking place on our doorstep and to raise the profile of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion.
“To be there at the opening has sparked interest in the children to find out more about renewable energy and the positive impact it has on our world.”
The choir comprises 29 pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6. They sang four songs to the guests as they arrived in the warehouse: Something Just Like This by Coldplay and The Chainsmokers, Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves, Fight Song by Rachel Platten and concluded with Big River by Jimmy Nail.
“The choir sang beautifully, and we received lots of compliments about their performance, particularly their rendition of Big River, which everyone loved,” added Mrs Parker.
Ethan Murry, nine, a Year 4 pupil, said: “We were very brave to sing in front of the mayor and the other important guests.”
Jesse Carr, nine, a pupil in Year 4, said: “I felt really underdressed walking in as everyone was in suits and ties. It was really good fun though.”
Holly Walker, eight, also in Year 4, added: “I thought it was cool that we were given hats and scarves to wear.”
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager for Equinor said: “The ethos of Dogger Bank Wind Farm is to support local communities and our guests expected local dignitaries to attend the opening ceremony. However, we kept the choir a surprise and they far exceeded our expectations. Feedback so far is that this was the highlight for guests and even UK Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart who attended the event has sent his personal thanks to the brilliant school choir. The acapella version of Big River was amazing for all to hear”.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
South Tyneside Music Service emailed schools for interest to sing at the official opening and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School was chosen.
9th February 2023 in Community News, Press releases
To mark national apprenticeship week, Dogger Bank Wind farm welcomed Newcastle College students to its operations and maintenance base this week. The visit was an opportunity to promote careers in offshore wind and share an overview of the world’s largest offshore windfarm under construction.
The apprentices got to see first-hand the state-of-the-art facilities that were recently constructed in South Tyneside. The new operations and maintenance O&M base was constructed and will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework, demonstrating the sustainable ethos of the project running right through to operations.
Over 400 long terms roles have been created locally to support the operations and maintenance of the windfarm. The project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn. SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
The students are studying level 2 Engineering Operative apprenticeships, with three of the apprentices currently receiving funding from operator Equinor, as part of its apprenticeship levy transfer announced in 2022 focusing on Engineering as a local skills gap.
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager for Equinor, said:
“We are delighted to host Apprentices at our facility in South Tyneside along with our strategic partner, Newcastle College. Offshore Wind provides a fantastic career opportunity for young people and Apprenticeships are one of the best ways to develop skills in many relevant areas from Engineering, to Technical roles to Developing Business skills. We look forward to continuing to support Apprenticeships through the project for many years to come.”
In June 2021, Dogger Bank Wind Farm unveiled plans for a £1 million construction fund to support the coastal communities where its onshore infrastructure is being developed. The programme includes a significant investment in science, technology, engineering, and maths, as well as scholarships and an operators fund to support local causes.
ENDS
Picture caption: Newcastle College students visit Dogger Bank operations and maintenance base in Port of Tyne.
5th December 2022 in Community News, Press releases
- 25 additional scholarships awarded to students from South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland and East Riding of Yorkshire to help young people prepare for working life in a net zero world.
- 50 scholarships in total have now been awarded to help students unlock their potential.
- The students are undertaking courses focused on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects.
- The scholarships are part of a wider £1 million investment in local communities during the construction of the wind farm.
December 2022: An additional twenty-five students from coastal communities in the north and north-east of England are being supported with the cost of further education, thanks to a scholarship of £5,000 each from Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The Scholarship Fund provides grants to local students undertaking science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) courses in further education. The recently awarded grants are part of the second round of the Scholarship Fund, with 50 scholarships awarded to date and a total of 62 scholarships available during the construction of the wind farm.
The scholarship fund focuses on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire and Redcar and Cleveland, where the windfarm will connect to the National Grid, as well as South Tyneside, where the Operation and Maintenance Base will be located.
The second round of the scholarship fund has proven very popular, with lots of quality applications received this year. The students are undertaking a wide range of STEM courses from diverse subjects such as Forensic and Analytical Chemistry and Zoology. There is also a clear focus on the climate emergency with eight scholars undertaking engineering related degrees which can help support in working towards a net zero future.
Ethan Ofosu is from South Shields and is studying Forensic and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Strathclyd. The former Bedford School student, said:
”Having gained this scholarship is a great opportunity for me as it helps reduce some of the financial burden and stress that going to university can have on me. It also shows that there are local businesses that are willing to support young people like me in the community. When I got the scholarship, it made my mam happy as well, so that was a nice feeling.”
Saffron Sollitt is from Hull and is studying BSc Physical Geography. The University of Hull student said:
“This scholarship has taken a lot of weight off my shoulders! I now have a lot less student loan to repay once I have completed my studies, therefore making me less anxious to take my next step in education, to achieve a master’s degree in volcanology. These degrees will enable me to earn a position in my dream career of being a volcanologist.”
Paul Thomas from Redcar, a HNC Mechanical Engineering student at the Redcar and Cleveland College, said:
“I’m extremely grateful to receive the Dogger Bank Scholarship. This funding award will enable me to fully concentrate on my HNC in Mechanical Engineering, during this challenging economic climate.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion.
Lindsay Dougan, Community Investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is delighted to have the opportunity to support excellent students with scholarships. It’s also great to see local people are undertaking courses which support the reduction in local skills gaps particularly around engineering. We are proud to support the workforce of the future through this scholarship initiative.”
In June 2021, Dogger Bank Wind Farm unveiled plans for a £1 million construction fund to support the coastal communities where its onshore infrastructure is being developed. The programme includes a significant investment in science, technology, engineering, and maths, as well as an operators fund to support local causes.
Students are reminded the scheme will reopen to new applicants in Summer 2023. Further details and how to apply next year can be found at https://doggerbank.com/about/community/.
Picture caption: Redcar and Cleveland students Harry Tranter (left), Paul Thomas (right) have received scholarships from Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Pictured with Redcar and Cleveland College – Head of Engineering, Dave Laycock (centre).
ENDS
22nd November 2022 in Community News, Operations, Press releases, Supply Chain
Dogger Bank Wind Farm today welcomed 80 local supply chain representatives to the Port of Tyne, the home of the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base for what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion.
Delivered by business development organisation, NOF, which specialises in the UK energy sector, the event aims to showcase the Port of Tyne as a green energy destination and centre for innovation across many industries from logistics and automotive to leisure and renewables, located at the heart of North East England.
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager for Dogger Bank said: “We are delighted to be hosting so many local suppliers today with our partners Port of Tyne. We are committed to providing local opportunities to businesses throughout the operational phase of the wind farm for its expected lifetime of 35 years. Over 50% of the O&M base build spend was with local companies and we hope to maintain this philosophy into our operations, providing long-term opportunities to the energy supply chain and the local business community.”
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm operations team will also provide a project update and highlight future opportunities for the supply chain, before providing a tour of the new state-of-the-art O&M base, which has been constructed and will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.
Matt Beeton, CEO of Port of Tyne said: “Today’s event is a great opportunity to mobilise the region’s skills and supply chain for the fantastic green opportunities on the horizon. The clean energy cluster we’re creating at the Port of Tyne together with the Dogger Bank JV partners will help repurpose today’s skills to take advantage of tomorrow’s opportunities. Through sustained investment in upgraded infrastructure, we’re determined to ensure that our green energy port provides the perfect development platform as the UK accelerates its path to a cleaner and greener future.”
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm project team has previously worked with NOF to deliver a series of ‘Meet the Buyer’ events to help prepare the supply chain for opportunities to get involved, by connecting Tier 1 suppliers with the local and UK supply chains. The project is proud to be working with a number of local suppliers following these activities, including South Tyneside based Metec UK. Key equipment for Dogger Bank has also been tested at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Test Centre in Blyth, including blades and nacelles for GE’s Haliade-X Turbine.
Joanne Leng MBE, Chief Executive of NOF, said: “NOF is proud to be supporting Dogger Bank Wind Farm with these O&M tours. Not only does it present an opportunity to showcase the base at the Port of Tyne but allows supply chain businesses and key stakeholders to see first hand what an amazing facility this is and how it will be a long term opportunity for the local business community.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located more than 130km off the north-east coast of England and is being delivered by joint venture partners SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn. SSE Renewables is leading on construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. 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.
More about Dogger Bank:
The Dogger Bank O&M Base was constructed at the Port of Tyne, with construction completed in Q4 2022. The project is the UK’s first HVDC connected wind farm and will feature the world’s first unmanned HVDC offshore platforms. North Star Renewables has been contracted to provide four Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) to the project.
One rotation of GE’s Haliade-X turbine can power a UK household for two days. 277 units of the 13MW and 14MW turbines will be used on Dogger Bank.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%).
If you would like to register your interest as a potential supplier to Dogger Bank Wind Farm, please go to https://doggerbank.com/supply-chain/supplier-registration/
