15th March 2023 in Operations, Project news
- 150 guests and employees gathered to celebrate the official opening.
- The state-of-the-art base will be the hub for operations and monitor 5% of UK electricity from its control room.
- Over 400 long-term jobs have been created locally to support Operations and Maintenance from South Tyneside for the 35-year life of the wind farm.
- The world-class facility will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework
Yesterday, the local community and distinguished guests including Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Graham Stuart MP, gathered to celebrate the official opening of the O&M base for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
150 employees and guests gathered in South Tyneside to christen the O&M base at Port of Tyne, which will serve as the hub for operations for Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The O&M base also houses the control room that will monitor and manage 5% of the UK’s electricity generating capacity, which is produced by the offshore wind farm.
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart said:
“The UK already boasts the four largest offshore wind farms in the world and I am delighted that Dogger Bank will overtake all of them in three years’ time. Having already delivered on green jobs and growth, Dogger Bank will be at the heart of boosting energy security for Britain and meeting the Energy Security Secretary’s ambition to have among the cheapest wholesale electricity prices in Europe.”
Pål Eitrheim, EVP Renewables at Equinor, said:
“We’re proud to be delivering Dogger Bank Wind Farm with our partners SSE Renewables and Vårgrønn. We look forward to operating this major power generation asset for the next 35 years from the state-of-the art O&M base at the Port of Tyne. At Equinor, we always aim to bring economic value to the local community hosting our offshore wind project. This base is a shining example of the long-term, positive contribution that offshore wind will continue to bring to the North East of England.”
Dogger Bank Project Director at SSE Renewables, Oliver Cass, said:
“Today is an important day for everyone involved in our ground-breaking project as we move closer to delivering first power in the summer. Building a wind farm on this scale requires huge talent and dedication. I’d like to pay tribute to everyone who’s played their part in our journey so far, including the thousands of skilled UK employees who are truly world-class.”
Over 400 long-term roles have been created locally to support the operations and maintenance of the wind farm, based at the Port of Tyne facility. In total, over 2,000 UK jobs have been created or supported through the Dogger Bank project. 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.
Councillor Pat Hay, Mayor of South Tyneside, said:
“This is a milestone moment and I am delighted to be here to officially open this facility. South Tyneside is honoured to be at the heart of this project, whose benefits to our community, now and in the future, can’t be underestimated. Dogger Bank places us at the forefront of the UK’s offshore renewables industry and represents our commitment to growth, innovation and sustainability. Along with our private sector partners, we can build a cleaner, greener future and ensure our residents can capitalise from the opportunities this world-class facility is creating right on our doorstep.”
The Port of Tyne O&M base building was designed by Newcastle-based Ryder Architecture and has been constructed and will be operated in line with the UK Green Building Council’s (UKGBC) Net Zero Carbon Buildings Framework. Bowmer + Kirkland built the base with a focus on local construction, with over £7.5 million spent with construction companies in Northeast England.
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.
Picture caption: Project Director Olly Cass, Mayor of South Tyneside Jan Hay, Operations Director Mark Halliday, Council Leader Tracey Dixon, EVP Renewables Equinor, Pal Eitrheim
(Photo: Dave Bell / Equinor ASA)
6th February 2023 in Press releases, Project news
Leading energy companies Equinor and SSE Renewables are carrying out early scoping work to explore options for developing a fourth phase, Dogger Bank D, of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Equinor and SSE Renewables each own 50% of the proposed Dogger Bank D development.
The Dogger Bank D proposal would require a new development consent order to progress into construction and could add an additional 1.32 GW in fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity to the 3.6 GW already in construction with phases A, B and C of the project. Dogger Bank D would be located in the eastern zone of the Dogger Bank C lease area, more than doubling the utilisation of existing acreage. The project’s progression remains subject to agreement with The Crown Estate.
The developers will release an initial scoping report in late March outlining ongoing work to explore the technical feasibility of deploying latest-available technology to bolster the UK’s renewable energy capacity. There are two options being explored for the energy generated by the offshore wind farm: a grid connection and/or green hydrogen production.
The first would see power from Dogger Bank D connecting to a grid connection in Lincolnshire, where National Grid is installing new network infrastructure in response to the UK Government’s ambitions to generate 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
The second option being considered by the developers is the use of electricity produced by offshore wind to generate green hydrogen at a dedicated electrolysis facility in the Humber region. The facility, if developed, could become the UK’s largest green hydrogen project and, subject to supportive Government policy and supply chain alignment, could contribute to the UK Government’s green hydrogen ambitions.
VP Dogger Bank at Equinor, Halfdan Brustad, said:
“Optimising the Dogger Bank C lease area with an additional phase, Dogger Bank D, is in-line with Equinor’s strategy to further develop offshore wind projects in clusters such as the North Sea. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with our partners, SSE Renewables, and work together to mature the technical scoping of this project. Both the grid offtake and green hydrogen production options from Dogger Bank D would contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions and emphasise Equinor’s ability to deliver a broad energy offering to the UK.”
Paul Cooley, Director of Offshore Wind, SSE Renewables, said:
“At SSE Renewables we’re focussed on delivering and building a homegrown energy system for the UK that is cheaper, cleaner and more secure. That’s why we’re taking action to develop more of the new offshore wind energy needed to radically increase renewable generation. We’re already building the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank, and now with our established partners Equinor we’re delighted to unveil plans to develop a potential fourth phase of the project, Dogger Bank D. We’re looking forward to working together to bring this project to the attention of key stakeholders.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Oliver Cass, said:
“We’re in the early stages of looking at the technical feasibility of the grid and also hydrogen options for a potential fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and we’re looking forward to working with local, national and regional stakeholders over the coming months as we progress the project.
“Not only is this project a great opportunity to generate more affordable green energy for UK consumers and increase the resilience of our energy networks, it would also build on the economic and social legacy started by the first phases of the project which have created and supported thousands of UK jobs and resulted in more than £1 million being invested in coastal communities.”
The first three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm known as A, B and C are 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.
Equinor and SSE Thermal are currently collaborating to accelerate the decarbonisation of the Humber, the UK’s largest and most carbon-intensive industrial region, through low-carbon projects such as Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station, Keadby Hydrogen Power Station and Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage.
As part of the Zero Carbon Humber initiative, in which Equinor and SSE Thermal are both members, hydrogen transmission and storage infrastructure are planned in the Humber linked to the East Coast Cluster CO2 transmission and storage system. The green hydrogen option at Dogger Bank D could benefit from leveraging the low-carbon hydrogen value chain being advanced, including the hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and network of potential customers.
* Vårgrønn is a joint venture between the Italian energy company Plenitude and the Norwegian energy entrepreneur and investor HitecVision.
21st November 2022 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Cranes will support staging of 277 sets of blades, nacelles, and towers at Able Seaton Port
- Contract will create approximately 30 roles at Thornaby-based lifting specialist
- 30 new jobs are part of approximately 470 previously announced in relation to GE contracts in north-east of England
GE Renewable Energy has selected Mammoet UK, based in Thornaby Teesside, to supply onshore heavy lifting and transport for the staging and installation of turbines for Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The contract will account for about 30 of the previously-announced approximately 470 roles to be created across the north-east of England by GE in relation to the construction and operation of the wind farm.
Mammoet will employ multiple lifting and transport crews for simultaneous operations to support with the loading of equipment and tower assembly in the marshalling harbour, a key piece in constructing the project. The team will utilise cranes and self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) axles at Able Seaton Port, the Dogger Bank Wind Farm marshalling harbour.
GE will start preparing the marshalling harbour and receiving components at the end of 2022.
Mammoet UK Managing Director, Mark Sadler, said:
“This contract represents not just a win for Mammoet and renewable energy investment but for the people of Teesside.
“Securing the project means even greater potential investment and business growth that will expand our existing pool of highly skilled labour with renewables expertise in the region. We have a great opportunity to support GE Renewables and other businesses building the UK’s fast-growing offshore wind energy market.”
Simon Bailey, Commercial Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“We’re delighted to see another company from the north-east of England winning valuable contracts in our supply chain and playing a significant role in the construction of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. We look forward to working with GE and Mammoet on achieving this exciting milestone at Able Seaton.”
GE Renewable Energy announced in May, 2021 that it had finalised all supply contracts for the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm, due to become the largest offshore wind farm in the world upon completion.
Nathan Fahey, GE Project Director for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“We are delighted to announce that we have selected Mammoet UK as our cranes and logistics supplier for the Dogger Bank Wind farm. The cranes and associated equipment the company will provide and operate for us will be essential to the smooth operation of our marshalling harbour on Teesside, where 277 sets of blades, nacelles and towers of our Haliade-X Wind Turbines will be erected and transit over the course of the project. We believe Mammoet has the right expertise and equipment to be an excellent partner for us.”
Mammoet UK’s headquarters in Teesside sits on a six-acre site located just 12 miles from the project and employs approximately over 180 full-time employees. The facility consists of offices, storage, workshop space and testing areas. Mammoet has also established an academy on the site, where it plans to train additional crews as part of the resourcing plan. This local presence is critical to the success of the project.
Caption: Mammoet UK, based in Thornaby Teesside, will supply onshore heavy lifting and transport for the staging and installation of turbines for Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
9th November 2022 in Construction, Project news, Supply Chain
International energy logistics provider Peterson has been awarded a contract to provide facilities management for shared access to the onshore converter stations for two major offshore wind farms, with the creation of 20 local jobs.
The three-year contract will see Peterson support with the grounds (summer and winter) maintenance, drainage and site security for the shared access areas of a 20-acre converter station construction site adjacent to Wilton International in Teesside on behalf of Dogger Bank C and Sofia offshore wind projects.
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is 100% owned by RWE and Dogger Bank C, the third phase in the wider Dogger Bank Wind Farm, is owned by SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). The projects are cooperating closely due to their proximity, including joint contracts for civil engineering and facilities management.
Sandra Hawkins, General Manager for England at Peterson, said:
“We are delighted to have the opportunity to apply our expertise as part of the development of these world-leading wind farms which will deliver significant, long-term benefit to the local area in the years ahead.”
Jason Hendry, Managing Director for England and Renewables Strategy at Peterson, said:
“This contract builds on our existing service offering to the offshore wind sector and aligns with our wider strategy to provide integrated solutions to our customers.
“We look forward to working with all involved to deliver more sustainable energy solutions to households in the UK.”
The contract marks an exciting time for Peterson who are on track to reach carbon neutral status across their global operations by the end of this year.
Supply Chain Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Robin Banning, said:
“On behalf of Dogger Bank C and Sofia we welcome Peterson’s expertise to our team, bringing local knowledge and capability to the shared site of both project’s converter stations as they continue to take shape.
“This contract will provide around 20 new UK jobs in our supply chain, and will present new opportunities for employment in the north-east of England where a number of our onshore assets will be located, along with our offshore construction hub at Able Seaton .”
27th October 2022 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm team walked away with a major award for health, safety and wellbeing following the first ever Global Offshore Wind Awards at a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London this week, for its ‘Safety by Design’ initiative
Organised by RenewableUK, the awards highlight the achievements of innovative people working in the offshore wind industry, as the UK continues its journey to improve Britain’s energy security through an ambition of installing 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Winning the first award of the evening for Offshore Wind Health & Safety and Wellbeing, the team from Dogger Bank Wind Farm, including SSE Renewables, Equinor and foundation designer Wood Thilsted, were commended by the judges for the way they included health and safety as an integral part of project planning and how their approach was the embodiment of best practice in the industry.
The ‘Safety by Design’ initiative used operational experiences, past incidents and industry statistics to improve health and safety through design on Dogger Bank.
Through several design changes of the wind turbines, foundations and service operation vessels (SOVs), this resulted in the following improvements over the project lifetime: 1 million offshore lifts removed, manual handling of 20,000 tons over 1000 kilometres and removal of exposure to a 3-meter fall for 650 days. In addition, the risk of collision between SOVs and the wind turbines has been significantly reduced.
Accepting the award on behalf of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Project Director Olly Cass said:
“Health and Safety are always the top priorities at Dogger Bank – our motto is ‘if it is not safe, we don’t do it.’ It is fantastic for our H&S colleagues and the wider team to have the quality of their work recognised in this way by the judges and in front of industry peers.”
Andrew Saunders, Dogger Bank Prepare for Operations Manager at Equinor, said:
”It is a real honour to be recognised by the industry for this ‘Safe by Design’ initiative, the result of strong collaboration between project partners and contractors to make a real difference. Taking G+ incident statistics, operational experiences and lessons has led us to eliminate vast amounts of craning and manual handling activities, which will have an incredibly positive impact to the health, safety and wellbeing of our technicians and engineers on a daily basis.”
RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:
“The UK is a world leader in offshore wind and it’s right to celebrate what drives our industry forward – growth, innovation, the vibrancy and resilience of our supply chain, our incredible people and the quality of our provisions on health and safety.
Ends
Picture caption: Global Offshore Wind Awards 2022 at Royal Lancaster Hotel
