Latest news : Press releases

Dogger Bank Wind Farm opens scholarship fund

1st July 2021 in Community News, Press releases, Project news

  • The scholarship fund will support students undertaking courses focussed on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), to help young people prepare for working life in a net zero world.
  • The programme will be open to students in South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland and East Riding of Yorkshire.
  • 50 scholarships will be available during the construction of the wind farm, for students in these communities studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects to support the cost of further education.

Students from coastal communities in the north and north-east of England can apply for a new scholarship fund to prepare them for working life in a net zero world.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm recognises the education of young people has been impacted by the pandemic and is committed to supporting the green recovery by helping the next generation to gain the jobs of the future.

The scholarship fund will focus on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire, and Redcar and Cleveland, where the windfarm connects to the National Grid, as well as South Tyneside, where the Operation and Maintenance Base will be located.

The scholarship fund will provide grants of £5,000 to 50 local students undertaking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) courses in further education. The scholarship is to be used towards tuition fees.

The first round of the scholarship fund is open for applications until 30 September 2021 and further details can be found at www.doggerbank.com.

Steve Wilson, Project Director from Dogger Bank Wind Farm said

“We recognise the difficulties young people have had during the pandemic and we want to help the recovery. Our scholarship fund will help local students to prepare for the highly-skilled jobs that will be available in a net zero world. We look forward to supporting and inspiring the workforce of the future as we continue our work to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”

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 Eni, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion.

In June 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. Further information is available here.

Dogger Bank confirms NKT for third phase of world’s largest offshore wind farm

30th June 2021 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

Following a preferred supplier agreement announced in 2020, Dogger Bank Wind Farm has now confirmed NKT as the main contractor for delivery and installation of high-voltage DC (HVDC) onshore and offshore export cable systems for Dogger Bank C, the third phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

The contract award is subject to Dogger Bank C reaching Financial Close in late 2021.

The order for NKT comprises the manufacture and delivery of more than 2x250km total system length of 320kV DC offshore export power cables, accessories as well as installation by the cable-laying vessel NKT Victoria. Manufacturing is expected from 2022 and with planned commissioning in 2026.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in three phases: Dogger Bank A and B are a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%). Dogger Bank C is a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.

NKT has already been confirmed for delivery and installation of HVDC onshore and offshore export cable systems for Dogger Bank A and B.

Dogger Bank will be located more than 130km from the North East coast of England. Using HVDC systems helps to minimise electrical losses over long distances. Dogger Bank will be the first HVDC connected wind farm in the UK, paving the way for other UK wind farms. By introducing an innovative unmanned design, the offshore substations are forecast to be 70% lighter (per MW) in weight compared to conventional platforms and save hundreds of millions of pounds in costs.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm unveils £1 million construction fund to help young people prepare for a net zero world

18th June 2021 in Community News, Press releases, Project news

  • The money will be focussed on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) learning, to help young people prepare for working life in a net zero world.
  • The programme will reach out to 142 UK schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire and North East of England, and support more than 25,000 young people.
  • 50 scholarships will also be available during the construction of the wind farm, for students in these communities studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects to support the cost of further education.
  • Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan hails investment as “innovative” way of supporting coastal communities.

Young people from coastal communities in the UK are set to share in a £1 million investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm to prepare them for working life in a net zero world.

In a programme being developed in partnership with local authorities in the North and North East of England, a total of £1 million has been allocated during the construction of the wind farm, to put science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at the heart of children’s education, helping them prepare for jobs that will be vital to the green economic recovery of the UK. Additional community funding will be allocated throughout the operational phase of the windfarm.

This construction fund will initially focus on the areas of East Riding of Yorkshire, where the windfarm will connect to the National Grid, and South Tyneside, where the Operation and Maintenance Base will be located.

The programme has been developed with local skills and education stakeholders to ensure it meets local priorities with a focus on early years in East Riding of Yorkshire, and primary to secondary school transition in South Tyneside.

All 124 primary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire and all 18 secondary schools in South Tyneside will have the chance to increase and expand their current science, technology, engineering and maths provision.

Both areas will also look to use the support to enhance their career advice services for school leavers.

Plans are still being drawn up for how the programme will support youngsters in the Redcar and Cleveland area, where the third phase of the wind farm will connect to the National Grid at Lackenby. These will be confirmed when the third phase, Dogger Bank C, reaches its final investment decision later this year.

In addition to enhancing STEM provision in the classroom, during the construction of the wind farm 50 students from these areas will receive a scholarship to help with the cost of further education qualifications while studying STEM subjects.

The £1 million investment also includes an Operators Fund to support other local causes to the value of up to £500. Community projects and local organisations will be able to apply at www.doggerbank.com/about/community/

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm STEM investment is one of the largest commitments to skills ever made by the offshore wind sector.

In addition to this STEM fund, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will invest £13.5 million in the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership during its lifetime, a programme set up to support the growth of the UK offshore wind supply chain. Furthermore, 50% of the wind farm’s rental payments to the Crown Estate will support the Coastal Communities Fund, a UK Government-funded initiative to support the economic  growth of coastal areas. Under the current arrangement the funds received by the Coastal Communities Fund will equate to 1% of the wind farm’s gross revenue, which could amount to tens of millions of pounds being invested in coastal communities during the operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister, Gillian Keegan, said:

“As we recover from the pandemic, we’re investing billions of pounds to help the UK become a global leader in green technologies. This includes the creation of up to 250,000 jobs by 2030 through our Ten Point Plan, which will be critical in delivering a green industrial revolution. It’s fantastic to see the developers of Dogger Bank Wind Farm supporting this by investing in science, technology, engineering and maths skills. Not only is the world’s largest offshore wind farm pioneering new technology, it is also innovating in the way it’s supporting coastal communities to ensure young people are equipped to access the green jobs of the future.”

MP for South Shields, Emma Lewell-Buck, said:

“This is such an exciting opportunity for our young people to learn and enhance STEM skills that will equip them and put them at the forefront of skilled jobs in the green economy. I want to thank the Dogger Bank Wind Farm project’s continued investment and commitment to our community, wider region and people.” 

Beverley and Holderness MP, Graham Stuart, said:

“This investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm is really welcome news, and it’s great that it will benefit children across the East Riding and in my constituency of Beverley & Holderness.

“Building up our domestic offshore wind capacity is bringing multiple benefits – from helping us meet our renewable energy commitments, to bringing skilled jobs to the area, to investing in our children’s education.

“I look forward to supporting Dogger Bank into the future as they generate tens of millions of pounds worth of investment into our area.”

Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, said:

 “Over the last few years Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have developed a reputation second to none as a powerhouse for clean technology. Not only are we playing a critical role in the manufacturing of offshore windfarm turbines, Dogger Bank C will meet landfall in Redcar. As home to the UK’s biggest freeport, thousands of good-quality, well paid jobs will be created across my region in the green industries of the future. I look forward to working with the developers of Dogger Bank Wind farm so that young people in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool have the skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities we are creating for local people in clean green industries.”

Steve Wilson, Project Director from Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:

“We are proud that alongside the jobs and supply chain investments we’ve already attracted to these local economies, we can also help make a real difference to the lives of people in our local communities with this innovative package of support.

“We estimate more than 25,000 young people from 142 schools in the north and north-east of England will benefit from this funding, as we open their eyes to the green industry opportunities of our net zero future.

“Renewable energy will increasingly become a source of skilled jobs in the UK as we come through the pandemic, and rebuild our economy. This is one of the most significant investments the offshore wind industry has made in future skills, and could be the key to unlocking the future potential of many young people, as we put STEM skills at the very heart of their learning.”

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 Eni, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm for its lifetime, from a new base to be constructed at Port of Tyne.

Work is already underway on the first two phases of the development in East Riding to prepare the 30km cable route from Ulrome to Creyke Beck Substation, near Beverley.

Ends

For further information:

Media contact – Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Jason Cooke, SSE Renewables

Jason.cooke@sse.com

+353 (0) 86 264 6710

 

Media contact – Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Rachel Lawrence, SSE Renewables

rachel.lawrence@sse.com

+44 (0) 7385 368783

UK civil engineering company extends its work on Dogger Bank Wind Farm with new contract

11th June 2021 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK has been 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.

The Jones Bros works will include providing a level load-bearing stone platform for the converter stations; two new accesses to the site with associated bellmouths; welfare and laydown areas; drainage system, and associated utilities.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is currently being developed in three 1.2GW phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C. Dogger Bank A and B is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40 per cent), Equinor (40 per cent) and Eni (20 per cent), while Dogger Bank C is a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.

Dogger Bank A and B will connect to the National Grid near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire, while Dogger Bank C will connect to the National Grid at Lackenby, on Teesside.

North Wales-based Jones Bros started work on the land-based infrastructure for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm last year, and has recently increased its team to 90 as work ramps up in preparation for the installation of 80 miles of underground cables from Ulrome to the onshore convertor station near Beverley.

On Teesside, between 25 and 30 Jones Bros workers will be on the site at any one time on behalf of Sofia Offshore Wind Farm and Dogger Bank C, with completion scheduled for April 2022.

The new contract win for the civil engineering firm is also expected to deliver opportunities for apprenticeships in the north-east of England as well as for suppliers such as fencing, haulage and other materials.

Eryl Roberts, contracts director at Jones Bros, said:

“We’re very pleased to be continuing our relationship with SSE and Equinor, both of whom are involved with Dogger Bank A and B, and look forward to developing our relationship with RWE.

 “Both Sofia and Dogger Bank C are significant projects in their own right and will deliver 1.4GW and 1.2GW of renewable power respectively once complete.

 “As with all of our projects, we will look to provide opportunities locally in the supply chain as well as for apprentices.”

Work is now underway and is expected to take approximately 10 months to complete.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said:

“This is a great opportunity for us to extend our collaboration with UK-based Jones Bros, following the start on the first two phases of the wind farm in East Riding. We’re also delighted to be working with Sofia Wind Farm in an innovative way, to ensure the impact on the local community on Teesside is minimal.”

 Sofia Project Director Matthew Swanwick said:

“This is a unique and complex project given the close cooperation between two separate wind farm developers, to the point of sharing a contractor for the early onshore construction activity, and so we welcome being able to leverage the breadth of experience Jones Bros. has had on previous UK infrastructure projects.”

 

 

Dogger Bank Wind Farm to pioneer technique that will cut welding times by up to 80 percent

27th May 2021 in Press releases, Project news

The developers of the world’s largest offshore wind farm will carry out the first large-scale pilot of an innovative new process that will reduce welding times by as much as 80%.

Ebflow Reduced Pressure Electron Beam (RPEB) welding is expected to be used at the Dogger Bank A phase of the wind farm, to fabricate welds on offshore wind foundation monopiles, reducing the amount of time it takes to  carry out the task from a number of hours to a matter of minutes. It will be the first time RPEB has been used on a large-scale offshore infrastructure project and has come about as part of a collaborative partnership named RapidWeld.

The Rapidweld project aims to create an industry-approved weld process for offshore wind which is more productive and sustainable than established methods, while reducing energy and material costs significantly.

The Ebflow technique will streamline the fabrication process for offshore wind farms, further increasing the efficiency of large-scale projects and demonstrating increased cost-effectiveness of renewable energy for consumers.

Ebflow RPEB will also reduce the carbon emissions associated with the traditional welding methods by 90 percent.*

A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni, SSE Renewables is leading on the construction and delivery of Dogger Bank while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. When complete, Dogger Bank will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world.

 Steve Wilson, SSE Renewables Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Project Director said:

“This is a ‘first-in-class’ project, establishing this UK innovation as world-leading technology. With monopile type foundations accounting for over 90% of foundations used in UK projects, Ebflow RPEB could realise significant cost savings on future projects.

“These substantial savings will not only benefit the UK offshore engineering industry but could be passed on to UK energy consumers.

 “It’s exciting that Ebflow is being used at Dogger Bank – a project which continues to contribute to the UK economy by creating jobs and supporting the supply chain. No doubt, other offshore projects across the world could ultimately benefit from what the Rapidweld partnership achieves.” 

The project has been made possible with a smart grant of £600k from Innovate UK, which is part of the UK Government backed Research and Innovation organisation.

The RapidWeld project team comprises of: SSE Renewables; Aquasium Technologies (trading as Cambridge Vacuum Engineering), the SME designer and manufacturer of the RPEB equipment; Sif, a global leading manufacturer of offshore foundations; and, TWI, the UK’s foremost welding research establishment.

Sif will be responsible for the fabrication and supply of 190 monopiles and primary steel for the transition pieces, as well as for the marshalling of all foundation components for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Chief Operating Officer for Sif, Frank Kevenaar said:

“We see great potential in the Ebflow RPEB welding process for thick section welding. Reduced distortion and elimination of filler material are, amongst others, great advantages. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this innovative project that is joining forces and expertise to create new cost-effective production methods.”

How Ebflow RPEB works

Ebflow RPEB uses heat generated by a beam of high-energy electrons to make a high strength and durable welded steel join in a clean and efficient way.

The Rapidweld project is expected to develop methods which outstrip existing welding technology and reduce the costs of future offshore wind foundation monopiles by up to 20%.