30th August 2024 in Project news
Following the blade event on 22 August on an installed turbine at the Dogger Bank A offshore wind farm construction site, Dogger Bank Wind Farm has been working closely with turbine manufacturer, GE Vernova, to investigate the root cause of the event.
GE Vernova analysis has shown that this blade event was not caused by an installation or manufacturing issue but instead occurred during the commissioning process.
GE Vernova analysis has established that during the commissioning process being performed by GE Vernova, the turbine was left in a fixed and static position, rendering it vulnerable during a subsequent storm with high winds.
The surrounding marine area at the site remains restricted in line with safety procedures. Installation activities at the site will restart in the coming days.
22nd August 2024 in Project news
We are aware of a blade failure which occurred this morning on an installed turbine at Dogger Bank A offshore wind farm, which is currently under construction. In line with safety procedures, the surrounding marine area has been restricted and relevant authorities notified. No one was injured or in the vicinity at the time the damage was sustained.
We are working closely with the turbine manufacturer, GE Vernova, which has initiated an investigation into the cause of the incident.
Further updates will be issued in due course as more information becomes available.
29th July 2024 in Community News, Project news
Four Tees Valley schoolchildren have had their writing skills recognised in a World Book Day competition.
The 500-word challenge to create an energy-themed superhero story, was launched in March.
The competition was part of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm-funded Building our Futures programme, which aims to embed STEM careers education into every primary school in Redcar and Cleveland, through engaging workshops supported by local employers.
The programme is delivered by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) with strategic support and guidance from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
Judges from Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its civil engineering contractor, Keltbray, were joined by local poet and published author Bob Beagrie, to decide on the winning entries.
Sammy from KTS Academy was selected as the winner, with her tale of Ice Man and his ability to rescue penguins and polar bears by refreezing melting ice caps.
Connie of St Joseph’s Primary in Loftus, Leah of Handale Primary in Loftus and Bonnie of Dormanstown Primary, were all recognised as highly-commended runner-ups. Bonnie was selected for a special silver award for impressing the judges with her exceptional use of descriptive language.
Customer and social value lead for Keltbray, Stuart Culley, said:
“It was an honour for Keltbray to be involved in this short story writing competition. Across every area of our business, we’re committed to engaging with young people and raising aspirations for the science, technology, engineering and maths-based careers that are available. It’s particularly been of interest to see how the children have used the creative aspects, to share their understanding of the construction industry, our drive towards carbon reduction / net-zero projects and leaving a legacy for future generations. We really enjoyed reading their work, we hope that together we’ve been able to inspire future generations to work in the field of renewable energy.”
Middlesbrough poet and published author, Bob Beagrie, said:
“As a published writer, I was taken aback by the quality of the young people’s creative writing, the sophistication of language, narrative ideas and their imagination in creative Net Zero superhero stories for the Doggerbank Windfarm.”
The Building Our Futures programme has now provided STEM career workshops for more than 4,000 primary school children, from 36 schools in Redcar and Cleveland. 73 local employers have given up a combined 377 hours to contribute to its success in its first two years.
Find out more here: Building Our Futures – RCVDA
23rd July 2024 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Over 200 miles/328km of 66KV cables manufactured by Hellenic Cables under a contract with DEME Offshore.
More than 200 miles (328 km) of 66KV inter-array cables have been successfully installed by delivery partners working on the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The cables were laid by DEME Offshore’s Viking Neptun, with burial works being completed by DEME Offshore’s Living Stone.
This work marks the completion of all inter-array cables on the first phase of the wind farm, Dogger Bank A, which began generating power in October 2023.
The network of 95 cables in a multitude of lengths up to 8.6 miles, will connect Dogger Bank A’s 95 Haliade-X 13MW turbines to the Dogger Bank A offshore convertor station. From here the electricity is converted into direct current for transmission to Dogger Bank A’s onshore convertor station via a pioneering HVDC system.
The laying of cables is carried out using a specialist cable lay vessel that uses a carousel and tensioner device, to deploy cable over the stern chute of the vessel and onto the surface of the seabed. The second stage involves connecting the cable to the offshore platform as well as each individual wind turbine.
This challenging engineering process follows on from an intensive preparation period involving underwater surveys, to ensure the cable laying corridor is clear of obstacles.
The 66KV inter-array cables were manufactured by Hellenic Cables under a contract with Dogger Bank tier one contractor DEME Offshore.
Hellenic Cables and Deme Offshore are also responsible for the manufacture and installation of inter-array cables for Dogger Bank B and C. The first inter-array cable for Dogger Bank B is expected to be installed from autumn 2024.
Alan Evans, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Marine Package Manager, said:
“This is another important part of our Dogger Bank A marine work complete, and is the result of a great collaboration between all parties involved.
“With 277 cables to be installed in total, it’s by far the biggest inter-array cable installation programme undertaken to date in offshore wind.
“The safe and smooth completion of this phase is a huge credit to the entire team.”
Geert Linthout, Project Director – DEME offshore, said:
“The teams at Dogger Bank and DEME Offshore have collaborated closely to achieve this significant project milestone.
“Throughout the execution, DEME Offshore has successfully deployed both the Living Stone and the newly added cable installation vessel Viking Neptun, demonstrating outstanding performance.
“This has provided a solid and reliable basis for the upcoming Dogger Bank B phase and, subsequently, the Dogger Bank C phase. We are excited to continue our strong working relationship on Dogger Bank B and Dogger Bank C.”
14th May 2024 in Construction, Press releases, Project news
Image: Seaway7’s vessel Seaway Strashnov in operations on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The team working on what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, have started work on the foundation installation campaign for the second phase of the development.
Seaway7’s vessels Seaway Strashnov and Seaway Alfa Lift have commenced installation of monopile foundations and transition pieces for the Dogger Bank B phase of the offshore wind farm project.
The team recently completed installation of all 95 transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, thus concluding the installation of the foundations for the first phase of the project.
Olly Cass, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, said:
“These installation milestones are the result of years of commitment and diligence from the project team and its delivery partners. As the world’s largest wind farm of its kind and due to the deployment of new turbine technology, every aspect of the wind farm has required us to come up with new innovative design and engineering solutions that will shape the future construction of offshore wind globally. We extend our thanks and congratulations to the many companies and individuals who’ve risen to this challenge and contributed to the milestone we’re celebrating today.”
Wouter van Dalen, Project Director, Seaway7, said:
“We are happy to welcome Seaway Strashnov back to the project to commence foundation installation on Dogger Bank B – leading on from the vessel’s good performance last year on Dogger Bank A. After introducing our brand-new heavy lift vessel Seaway Alfa Lift to the project in October, the vessel operated through the high weather season installing transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, and now continues this work in phase B. The foundation installation scope is making excellent progress, enabled by our strong collaboration with our client Dogger Bank Wind Farm and our subcontractors.”
The monopile foundations and transition pieces provide a solid and stable base for the scale of GE Vernova’s groundbreaking 13MW Haliade-X turbines. The monopile and transition piece structures were manufactured by Sif and Smulders and are being installed 80-miles off the Yorkshire coast by tier one contractor Seaway7.
Monopiles are the large-diameter tube-shaped steel structures that are installed in the seabed by the vessel using dynamic positioning technology.
The monopiles weigh in at up to 1,424 tonnes each and can measure up to 72.8 metres in length. The Dogger Bank transition pieces feature a pioneering split-level design to support safe installation and operation and have a record-breaking 8m flange to connect the monopiles and transition piece structures.
Confirmation of this offshore milestone on Dogger Bank B follows on from the successful installation of the offshore HVDC platform for the second phase of the wind farm in April.
A total of 277 monopiles and transition pieces will be installed across all three phases of the wind farm, with completion due in 2026.
Steel manufactured by Tata Steel in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is being used in the supporting components of the transition pieces, while South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada Material Handling have also won contracts with Smulders to support this innovative and world-leading project.
Designed in the UK by experts from Wood Thilsted, Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s foundations have been optimised to tackle challenging wave loads in the Dogger Bank area of the North Sea, with installation in water depths of up to 32m and at a minimum distance of 130km from shore.
