19th June 2023 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Largest offshore jack-up vessel and first seaworthy ultra-low emission installation vessel Voltaire arrives in the UK for her very first assignment on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
- The vessel will install turbines for all three Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases, a total of 277 units of GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X offshore wind turbines.
The largest offshore jack-up installation vessel ever built, Voltaire, has just arrived in the UK port of Able Seaton ahead of its first campaign on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Voltaire of Jan De Nul Group was delivered in late 2022. Since then she has been undertaking final preparations for her very first assignment, the construction of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm phases A, B and C.
In total, the vessel will be responsible for installing 277 GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X turbines. Voltaire will sail out in early July to begin installation
Olly Cass, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, said:
“As offshore wind technology grows in scale and power, the industry needs stronger vessels that are capable of meeting these engineering challenges. With its lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes and ultra-low emissions design, we can’t wait to see this next generation vessel take on the challenge of installing some of the world’s largest and most powerful turbines, as we head towards first power for Dogger Bank A this summer.”
Jan Van Impe, Manager Jan De Nul Offshore Renewables, said:
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is exactly the type of project we had in mind when we took the decision to build our Voltaire. The scale and characteristics of the offshore Dogger Bank turbines offer the perfect challenge for this next generation state-of-the art jack-up installation vessel. We are excited to continue our contribution to the energy transition together with industry leaders SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn by installing the offshore wind turbines at Dogger Bank A, B and C in the most efficient and clean manner possible.”
Voltaire is the first seaworthy installation vessel to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel
Voltaire, named after the pioneering European Enlightenment philosopher, has a lifting capacity of over 3,000 tonnes.
The vessel is fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system by means of a selective catalytic reduction system and a diesel particulate filter, making her the very first seagoing installation vessel of her kind to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv), moreover Stage V-certified.
Picture caption: The offshore jack-up installation vessel Voltaire is the largest of her kind in the world and is able to install the next generation of offshore wind turbines starting with the Dogger Bank wind turbines of +13MW and 14MW. Image credit: Jan De Nul
8th June 2023 in Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
The first of North Star’s new offshore wind fleet, the Grampian Tyne, has been officially named at a VIP ceremony at the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base at the Port of Tyne in the North East of England (UK), ahead of its early handover to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The traditional good luck celebration, involving the customary champagne bottle being smashed against the hull of the ship, was successfully carried out by the ship’s godmother, Lindsay Gordon, wife of North Star CEO, Matthew Gordon.
The service operation vessel (SOV) is of VARD 4 12-design and is one of four destined for decade-long minimum charters to support operations and maintenance (O&M) work at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm and its partners Equinor (40%), SSE Renewables (40%), and Vårgrønn (20%). Once the wind farm is fully completed, it will be the largest in the world, producing enough electricity to power six million British homes.
Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO, said:
“Being able to welcome our clients and esteemed guests onboard the Grampian Tyne in all her glory has been an incredibly proud moment for the entire North Star team and everyone involved in its design and construction. The significance of the name is not just a simple nod to the river, but to the people and the community this vessel and wind farm serve. We’re extremely proud of the links being built with the local supply chain with a rich history of shipping on this waterway.
“We employ a very talented workforce who have remained completely focused throughout the project management, resulting in the ship being built, sea trialled, and outfitted ahead of time. We also work with an incredible local supply chain and look forward to seeing more investment and recruitment opportunities being brought to the area as we continue on our journey to deliver three further ships for Dogger Bank, which will also all be based out of Port of Tyne.”
All three remaining hybrid-electric powered SOV newbuilds, being built by VARD, are on track for being operational at Dogger Bank A, B and C by 2026. The company’s state-of-the-art design provides high-quality accommodation to offshore wind turbine technicians, as well as a centralised logistics hub configured to handle cargo and act as a functioning warehouse offshore.
Kamala Hajiyeva, head of Dogger Bank Development at Equinor, said:
“We are thrilled to welcome the new Grampian Tyne service operation vessel to our Operations and Maintenance base here at the Port of Tyne. The vessel provides a best in class working and living environment for our offshore wind technicians and team members, ensuring they can carry out essential maintenance safely and comfortably. The vessel’s advanced features will also provide essential services to the development of the Dogger Bank wind farm, that when complete in 2026, will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”
The Grampian Tyne boasts some of the most innovative technologies in the maritime sector. This includes medium speed MGO power generation gensets with hybrid battery architecture in-built, coupled with Voith-Schneider eVSP propulsion package to maximise the operating envelope offshore, reduce fuel burn and improve comfort for all on board. The inclusion of a side loading logistics concept allows quayside reloading directly to the SOV covered main deck warehouse facility for both the client’s cargo and ships stores safely and efficiently.
The operational planning is supported by a new best in-class decision support software and digital twin solution created with MO4 that will be deployed across the fleet to improve operational performance through predicational planning of client scheduling, metocean forecasts and collated KPI monitoring reporting.
The SOV is equipped with a bespoke new concept and designed daughter craft for effective high performance, safe and efficient offshore support of technician and cargo deployment, engineered to perform in up to 1.7m Hs sea-state.
Steve Wilson, Director for Capital Projects for Offshore at SSE Renewables, said:
“The naming of North Star’s first of four SOVs destined for Dogger Bank Wind Farm marks another key milestone in the project. For Aberdeen based company, North Star, to achieve handover of the SOV to Dogger Bank on schedule is testament to the hard work by everyone involved with the design and construction.
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm is fully committed to supporting the local supply chain and communities in the UK where possible and we’re proud to have played a role in enabling this UK company to take advantage of the global opportunity presented by offshore wind. It is evident that securing significant orders like this can really help UK businesses enter the offshore wind market, secure investment and create sustainable jobs.”
Each SOV is being built at VARD’s facilities in Vietnam. The Grace Darling, named after the British lighthouse keeper’s daughter who rescued survivors from a wrecked steamship off the coast of Northumberland in 1838, is North Star’s first of its associated hybrid-powered daughter craft used primarily as crew transfer vessels, was designed in collaboration with leading naval architects, Southampton-based Chartwell Marine. The SOV workboat was built by Alicat Workboats in Great Yarmouth.
CEO of VARD, Alberto Maestrini, said:
“We congratulate North Star with the naming ceremony of their first vessel in their renewable fleet. We are delighted that they chose VARD on their way to a sustainable future in the industry, and happy to deliver Grampian Tyne before schedule. This shows VARD’s strength as a fully integrated forward leaning designer and ship builder. Together we have developed a vessel that through its design and advanced technological solutions is tailor made with optimal standards to operate in harsh environment with a low environmental footprint. VARD aims to lead the green transition in the maritime industry, and through this collaboration with North Star, we both continue to enable sustainable business at sea.”
Last month (May), North Star contracted VARD for up to a further four new offshore wind vessels. The new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) take the firm a step closer to its ambition of expanding its fleet with 40 renewables fleet by 2040 to support the growing UK and European markets.
Picture caption (left to right): North Star’s Keith Sutherland, Olly Cass from SSE Renewables, Matthew Gordon, North Star CEO, VARD’s Runar Vagnes, Equinor’s Kamala Hajiyeva, and William Ritchie, also North Star.
5th May 2023 in Community News, Press releases
Last night East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm took home the award in the Renewable Education Category at the Humber Renewables Awards for their ambitious and innovative East Riding Dogger Bank Primary Programme.
The programme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, enabled by the construction of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, to invest in a unique partnership of local education networks, national teacher’s continued professional development providers and industry, to create a lasting legacy of excellence in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education and careers from ages three to eleven.
The project offers a tailored range of opportunities for all 124 primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire and aims to connect learning in schools to the jobs and opportunities of the future. The partnership was formed to counteract the subtle, but powerful messages around job and career aspirations which children form at a very young age. The programme is delivered in partnership with specialist providers, Complete Careers, Stem Learning and PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark), who underpin and support professional development for teachers.
The Dogger Bank Primary Programme has been received with great enthusiasm by schools, teachers and pupils and the partnership is proud to have been shortlisted. Over a three-year period, all 124 primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire can benefit from the programme in a way that supports their school individually. There are three strands in the programme: increasing the skills knowledge and expertise of teachers engaged in STEM in early years; to recognise quality in the science offer across all ages; and embedding of careers education in the primary curriculum. Schools can draw upon national providers, meet specialist teachers in the field and work with industry partners. All three strands benefit not just the teachers and pupils, but also families and the local community.
Community investment Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Lindsay Dougan, said:
“I’m really proud to be celebrating with our partners who brought our programme to life. This programme is ground-breaking and it has taken trust, dedication and passion to bring this unique approach to fruition. Our programme has been carefully designed to foster and nurture schools to achieve a “learn it, see it, be it” ethos around STEM and career aspirations.
“By allowing each school to tailor their own programme, more children will be able to see themselves in STEM careers and ultimately become the talent needed to take the UK to Net Zero.”
Sara Fletcher education and skills partnership manager East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The scale and ambition of the East Riding Dogger Bank Primary Programme will support and impact the entire region, embedding career discussions and activities in primaries to help young people understand the breadth of opportunities available. We know from our experience engaging with local schools how keen young people are to challenge themselves to live sustainable lives. That’s why we want this programme to lead towards a cultural change so our young people can be trailblazers in STEM and their careers.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm, is being built off the East Coast in three 1.2GW phases : Dogger Bank A, B and C. It is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). 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.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is investing £1m in its key communities during the construction of this wind farm and working with education providers to help young people to unlock their future potential through enhanced science, technology, engineering and maths provision. The Dogger Bank team has worked with local education providers in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar & Cleveland and South Tyneside to create a bespoke legacy for the wind farm that addresses the specific educational needs of each community.
The wind farm is currently under construction more than 130km off the coast in the North Sea, and is expected to start generating power in the summer.
The Humber Renewable Awards celebrate the region’s commitment to green energy, honouring organisations large and small at the forefront of the UK’s zero-carbon emissions.
About East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is a local government organisation providing a range of services to East Riding residents including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The councils’ education and schools, improvement and learning service which is the key service involved in this submission.
In the East Riding and beyond in South Tyneside and Redcar and Cleveland, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm education partnerships are inspiring children and young people for a working life in a net-zero world. Within the East Riding during the construction of the wind farm, a unique partnership of local education networks, national CPD providers and The Dogger Bank Wind Farm aims to increase and expand the knowledge of children in STEM and the jobs of the future.
About the delivery partners
Complete Careers is a Licensed Awarding Body for the National Quality in Careers Standard, using the Career Mark method; assessing excellence in careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) provision, following the changes in relation to the Quality in Careers Standard in March 2017.
The Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) is a school improvement programme that transforms primary schools and communities – growing confident leaders and teachers of science, building children’s attainment and aspiration in science, and shaping the culture of a primary school into a place where every child, teacher and family believes that ‘science is for them’. PSQM is based at the University of Hertfordshire and the programme is delivered to over 600 UK and international schools each year. www.psqm.org.uk
STEM Learning is a non-profit organisation dedicated to raising young people’s engagement and achievement in STEM. It is the largest UK provider of STEM education and careers support to schools, colleges and community groups working with young people. Visit www.stem.org.uk @STEMLearningUK
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).
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.
