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Local artwork installed at Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base

18th April 2023 in Community News, Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

Dogger Bank Wind Farm has partnered with Newcastle art gallery Gallagher & Turner to invest in local artwork which is being displayed permanently at the Operations and Maintenance Base in Port of Tyne.

  • Major investment in local creative industry
  • Over 30 pieces will be displayed
  • All works to be displayed are by North East artists
  • Employees invited to select the type of works to be displayed

The partnership represents a major investment in the local creative industry with over 30 pieces to be displayed, all by artists from North East England.

Clare Turner, Partner, Gallagher & Turner said: “The request to provide art for the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance base was an amazing opportunity for us to be able to assemble a portfolio of unique pieces by artists who work in the region.  We immediately felt creatives whose practice relates to the local environment, the narratives of the Tyne, the North Sea coast, its history and the unique power of the landscape of the North East, were going to connect best with all our shared environmental concerns. We were also delighted to be asked to work with an organisation that is making a profound effort to connect with the local area commercially as well as visually by supporting a small independent art gallery.”

Employees at the O&M base helped select the type of works to be displayed, ensuring that the pieces would be enjoyed and appreciated by staff working at the state-of-the-art facility. Among the many artists featured, art works include a new Ringed Plover painted commission by Paul Henery, and Crispian Heath will be creating two new large scale glass commissions.

Over the last thirty years we have been enthusiastic to run an exciting programme of continually changing exhibitions and with a pool of local talent to draw on we were able to propose a selection of original pieces for the building.  We had some great involvement and feedback from the staff who were excited to see our proposals and going forward we are hopeful they will be continually inspired by these artworks” added Clare.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm plans to continue the partnership with Gallagher & Turner with a yearly Purchase Prize for art students at Sunderland and Newcastle Universities for the next 4 years, with the selected works to be displayed at the facility. Together, they also plan to commission three original murals to be displayed, working with the local community, South Tyneside Council and Foundation Press.

Felicity Wann, Operations Leader at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “We wanted our new O&M base to reflect the Dogger Bank strategy of investing in the local community, as well as giving employees the opportunity to shape the O&M base and really make it their own.  By investing in art by local artists we have been able to do both these things.  Working with a fantastic local gallery, who guided us throughout and ensured we have a cohesive collection, reflecting the Dogger Bank environmental focus and the landscapes of North East England, has made the whole process a joy.”

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.

The wind farm, which will generate 3.6 GW of capacity, is being built in three 1.2 GW phases, named Dogger Bank A, B & C, and will be able to power the equivalent of 6 million UK homes on completion.

Picture caption: North East artists visit Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance Base.  From Left to Right: Rosie Morris and Clare Turner (Gallagher & Turner), Rhiannon Robinson, Paul Henery, Lily Senner, Alex Charrington, Jill Campbell, Mark Halliday (Dogger Bank Wind Farm), Crispian Heath, and Felicity Wann and Tom Nightingale (Dogger Bank Wind Farm).

Dogger Bank Wind Farm donates 60 bird boxes to schools in East Riding to Encourage wildlife education and conservation

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.

School choir blows away guests with performance at wind farm base opening ceremony

20th March 2023 in Community News, Operations

School choir

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.

 

Dogger Bank Wind Farm welcomes local apprentices to its Operations and Maintenance Base

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.

Second round of Dogger Bank Wind Farm scholarships awarded to university students

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