29th April 2022 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
The team building Dogger Bank Wind Farm has officially marked the start of its offshore construction work with the installation of the first length of HVDC export cable off the Yorkshire coast.
Tier one supplier NKT is leading the work to install the Dogger Bank A nearshore cable, that will connect the first phase of the windfarm more than 130km off the coast to a landfall point at Ulrome, in East Riding of Yorkshire.
Aberdeenshire-based ACE Winches and LMR Drilling UK Ltd of Birkenhead are among the companies supporting NKT with this work.
The campaign will continue during 2022, with work starting on the export cables for Dogger Bank B in East Riding, and Dogger Bank C on Teesside, in the consecutive years.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the first HVDC connected wind farm in the UK, paving the way for other UK wind farms and suppliers to build on our experience transmitting renewable energy safely and efficiently across long distances while minimising potential losses.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director Steve Wilson, said:
“This is an exciting time for everyone involved in this project as we celebrate installing the first nearshore HVDC export cable safely and on-time.
“With the first foundations due to be installed later this year and the first turbines scheduled for installation in 2023, we’re now well on our way to achieving first power from this unrivalled global renewable energy asset.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to all those who’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this major offshore milestone.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in three phases known as A, B and C. The project is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni Plenitude (20%).
NKT will supply and install the onshore and offshore HVDC cable for all three phases of the project. The company will use its cable-laying vessel NKT Victoria to install the 320kV DC subsea cable system in the challenging North Sea conditions.
Head of Project Execution in NKT, Darren Fennell says:
“As a long term high-voltage DC technology partner to Equinor, Eni Plenitude and SSE, NKT is excited to have reached the installation phase of the Dogger Bank A near shore cables. The overall project is key for the continued European focus on increasing the use of renewable energy sources and we look forward to successfully completing the cable installations”.
LMR Drilling Managing Director, Jez Seamans said:
“It has been a fantastic project to be involved in, with the HDD landfalls forming a small but crucial part of the overall project linking the offshore power generating system with the onshore grid. It is great to see the first of the cables being installed into these landfall ducts, another step in the ongoing decarbonisation of UK power”.
ENDS
Picture caption: Offshore construction work has started on Dogger Bank Wind Farm with the first export cable installation successfully completed. Image source: Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
28th April 2022 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s tier one contractor Hitachi Energy will begin to transport electricity transformers from Hull to the project’s East Riding convertor station site near Cottingham from May 8.
The transformers will travel from Albert Dock, Hull via A63, A1034 and the A1079. The size of the transformers requires the use of abnormal load vehicles. There will be four deliveries during the month of May, expected to be made on the mornings of 8, 15, 22 and 29 May, with each delivery taking up to six hours, dependent on the conditions.
Rachel Lawrence, Community Engagement Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“While we will do everything, we can to minimise disruption during these deliveries, it is it is possible some journey times may be slightly longer than normal and we would ask the public for their patience as we carry out this critical work.
“Our contractors will be working with officers from Humberside Police to ensure the transportation is carried out safely and securely, and with minimal impact on the communities close to these roads. Delivery of these transformers is an important milestone for the construction of our infrastructure in East Riding, which will be home to two of our three convertor stations for the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
“We are extremely grateful for the ongoing patience and understanding of the communities in this area as we build the infrastructure that will help the UK to reduce carbon emissions and create a secure electricity supply for 6 million UK homes.”
The transformers will be delivered on specialist girder frame trailers provided by UK firm Allelys. The trucks will be more than 58.2 metres long and 4.75 metres wide and will travel at approximately 10 -15 miles per hour. To support the delivery the team has worked with contractors and local highway officials from East Riding of Yorkshire Council to carefully plan the route and minimise disruption to road users. The specialist girder frame trailer will have a police escort to help manage traffic and make the process as smooth and safe as possible.
Overview of the route:
The delivery convoy consisting of the abnormal load vehicle, police and support vehicles will leave the Albert Dock in Hull and make its way westbound, along the A63 to join the A1034 at South Cave heading north. The convoy will then join the A1079 at Market Weighton, heading east until the outskirts of Beverley, where the vehicle will turn south remaining on the A1079 and is expected to arrive at the convertor station site entrance, located between Beverley and Cottingham in the afternoon on the specified dates.
The transformers will play an integral role in the operation of two onshore convertor stations in East Riding of Yorkshire that are currently under construction at the A1079 site between Beverley and Cottingham. Eventually they will convert the current from the wind farm for transmission via the national grid network to millions of UK homes after the renewable energy has made its way under the ground from the landfall point at Ulrome, between Bridlington and Hornsea.
Details of further transformer deliveries in 2023 will be communicated nearer the time.
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Picture caption: Allelys will deliver transformers to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm convertor station site from 8 May. Picture source: Allelys.
30th March 2022 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
- Youngsters in Redcar and Cleveland to benefit from share in £1 million Dogger Bank construction investment package.
- 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.
- Building Our Future primary careers programme supported by Dogger Bank Wind Farm will reach out to all 44 primary schools and approx. 11,000 pupils in Redcar and Cleveland.
- University students are also already benefiting from STEM scholarships from the wind farm.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is delighted to unveil plans to support 11,000 pupils from 44 primary schools in Redcar & Cleveland during its construction period.
As part of its wider £1 million investment across the north-east of England and Yorkshire announced in Spring 2021, the wind farm is now ready to formally launch its Redcar and Cleveland STEM education programme support.
At a breakfast meeting with local schools today, the wind warm will announce it will be investing in the Building Our Future Primary Careers Programme. Following a successful pilot of the programme in the region, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will invest further to help embed careers education, and particularly STEM careers, into every primary school in Redcar and Cleveland.
Today’s announcement takes the total number of schools benefiting from the Dogger Bank STEM programme to 204. It takes the total number of pupils the wind farm is reaching out to with its investment to 36,000.
The Redcar and Cleveland programme will be delivered by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency with strategic support and guidance from Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council. During a three-year period, the programme will broaden the careers awareness of primary school children and help them to understand the world of work by introducing them to a wide range of exciting local occupations.
The programme will provide advice, guidance, and training for teaching staff and help embed careers education into core school delivery. The programme will work closely with local employers so that young people get a unique understanding of the world of work.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, said:
“Our region is the global go-to place for companies looking to push forward net zero innovation, delivering thousands of good, quality well paid jobs for local people. With so many jobs in the cleaner, healthier, and safer industries of the future coming here it’s essential that our young people know there is a bright future ahead of them.
“This investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm will mean thousands of pupils across all of Redcar and Cleveland’s primary schools will be able to learn about these future opportunities, with a particular focus on STEM careers.
“Creating good quality job opportunities is at the heart of everything we’re doing across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, from the Freeport to the Airport. It’s essential that we build knowledge of the opportunities on our doorstep, that’s why I extended our Tees Valley Careers programme to include primary schools so that our young people can make clearer choices, achieve their full potential, and stay local but go far.”
Jacob Young, MP for Redcar, said:
“The pupils currently attending in Redcar and Cleveland’s primary schools are part of a generation that will grow up with the benefit of the new and exciting job opportunities that are fast coming to Teesside.
“It’s absolutely right that we do everything we can to encourage and inspire these children to be aware of the opportunities that are going to be available to them as soon as possible, even during their primary school years.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the Building Our Future primary careers programme and I hope it inspires every one of the 11,000 primary pupils in Redcar and Cleveland to become a new generation – inspired, confident and optimistic.”
Rachel Lawrence, Stakeholder Manager from Dogger Bank Wind Farm said:
“We know from talking to educational experts that children start to make important career choices during their primary school years. Embedding career discussions and activities in primaries will not only help young people to understand the breadth of opportunities available to them, but it will also be a fun and interactive way of helping them to make sense of the world around them. Through this investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm, we hope to help pupils to unlock their potential and put them on a path to a successful, fulfilling and rewarding career.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the northeast 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.
The wind farm is being built in three consecutive phases, connecting to the National Grid in both East Riding of Yorkshire and on Teesside. The third phase of the wind farm, Dogger Bank C, will reach landfall at Marske-by-the-sea. The underground onshore cables will be routed to an onshore convertor station near Lazenby, where preparation work is already underway. Once the current is converted, the renewable energy will make its way to an existing National Grid substation at Lackenby.
The project unveiled plans for its £1 million investment in communities last June and the team has been working with local educators in Redcar & Cleveland since then to develop a STEM programme that directly addresses the requirements of young people in the region.
Mike Milen, Chief Executive at Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency, said:
“Redcar & Cleveland and the wider Tees Valley region is undergoing huge change with significant inward investment, alongside our partners and with support from Dogger Bank Wind Farm we want to make sure more of our young people have an opportunity to access these new opportunities.”
Amanda Olvanhill, Head of Employability at Redcar and Cleveland Council, said:
“This investment from Dogger Bank Wind Farm will help build on a strong foundation and successful pilot funded through Sirius 106 monies, ensuring that all our primary schools have access to dedicated support and resources to help embed careers and highlight exciting local developments, STEM sectors and job roles.”
In addition to enhancing STEM provision in the classroom, several local students from Redcar and Cleveland will receive a scholarship to help with the cost of further education qualifications while studying STEM subjects. Six local students have already received a scholarship of £5,000 from the programme and more students will receive support when the fund reopens in May.
The wind farm also has an Operators Fund to support local charities and community groups, with grants up to £500. This fund will help support projects which enhance the quality of life for local residents, contribute to sustainable communities or help promote community spirit. Further information is available at here.
Caption: Amanda Olvanhill, Head of Employability at Redcar and Cleveland Council (pictured left), and Rachel Lawrence, Community Engagement Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm (pictured right).
9th March 2022 in Community News, Operations, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
Construction of the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the Port of Tyne has positively impacted the region’s economy with over £7.5 million re-invested throughout North-East England.
In line with the project objectives, Bowmer + Kirkland, principal contractor for the O&M base construction, are actively engaging local supply chain partners and throughout the duration of the scheme, a key focus has been placed on procuring goods and services locally.
To date, over £4.4million has been spent within the South Tyneside Local Authority area with supply chain partners, including South Tyneside based Castle Building Services Limited and Thompsons of Prudhoe Limited benefitting from the project. Numerous other sub-contractors from across the region including Newcastle based Chemplas Limited and Durham based Wyn Construction Limited have also been engaged on the project’s further £3.1million local spend.
Liz Wilson, B+K Project Manager for the Dogger Bank O&M base construction, said:
“Each project that B+K deliver provides an opportunity for us to significantly benefit the communities in which we operate. As a contractor with offices located in the North-East, we are committed to supporting regional growth by providing opportunities for local supply chain partners to engage with projects such as the Dogger Bank operations and maintenance base.”
The project, which is located at the Port of Tyne, has provided opportunities for a number of local companies including those classified as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), which account for 89% of the supply chain. Packages equating to 95% of the construction cost to date, have been awarded to MSME’s.
Mark Halliday, Dogger Bank Operations Director, said:
“We are extremely proud to be working with so many local businesses for the construction of our operations and maintenance base. We will continue to bring more North-East expertise into the project as we move into the O&M phase in order for the local community to benefit from this world leading project.”
The project commenced in September 2021 and as the project progresses, and further work packages are made available, B+K will continue to engage with supply chain partners who are based in close proximity to the project with the aim of increasing the high level of regional investment already generated by the project. The project previously announced that the base will be constructed and operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework.
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 Eni. SSE Renewables is leading on construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion. 370 jobs have so far been created associated with the long-term operations of the wind farm from the Port of Tyne. In total, over 3,000 jobs have now been created or supported through the project.
Dogger Bank will be world’s largest offshore wind farm upon completion in 2026. Due to its size and scale, 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.
15th February 2022 in Project news, Supply Chain
An innovative new inter-array cable monitoring system that will help technicians identify and prevent potential faults is set to be deployed for the first time on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The ECG™ holistic cable monitoring system has been developed in the UK by Proserv Controls. It provides operators with real-time data for improved decision-making and supporting optimum operating efficiency.
The technology will be used for the first time on the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, after the company was awarded a contract with Dogger Bank tier one supplier, DEME.
The Proserv order follows on from a cable protection system (CPS) contract being awarded to Darlington-based Tekmar Energy Limited. The Generation 10 TekTube contract with DEME is Tekmar’s largest CPS order to date.
More than 3,000 UK jobs have now been created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Halfdan Brustad, Vice President of Dogger Bank Wind Farm operations, said:
“In another world-first for the project, we’re looking forward to using this high-tech system to support us in optimising our assets during the operational phase.
“With vast experience in the oil and gas sector, Proserv are now translating their subsea experience into solutions for offshore wind. We’re excited to be supporting them on this journey as their first ECG customer, and we look forward to working with them, alongside DEME, as we continue to build this innovative and world-class wind farm.”
Paul Cook, Business Development Director – Renewables, Proserv Controls, stated:
“Dogger Bank represents one of the most important offshore wind projects under construction, so this success for our new ECG holistic cable monitoring system is a major endorsement of our market proposition, and a significant step forward in Proserv’s renewables strategy.
“We are delighted that DEME Offshore has chosen to work with us in the vital area of cable asset management and to utilise our exciting technology delivering synchronous, real-time monitoring.”
