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Unearthing ancient history on East Yorkshire cable route

13th January 2021 in Press releases, Project news

Fragments of long-forgotten Roman and Iron Age moments in history have been unearthed by archaeologists working on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Specialists from AOC Archaeology Group have been carrying out extensive excavations along the cable route in East Yorkshire, for the first two phases of the project since 2018, and are now starting to build a picture of life on the land thousands of years ago.

“So far we’ve found a lot of Iron Age and Roman archaeology, including evidence of rural settlements, enclosures and field systems,” explained Stephen Potten, who manages AOC Archaeology’s York office and is leading the work.

“There’s some structural evidence that may relate to buildings and considerable quantities of domestic pottery. The Dogger Bank project is certainly giving us a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of Iron Age and Roman settlements in the area.

“We’ve always known there were settlements in this area but our excavations are shedding more light on how extensively the area was occupied and how communities interacted with the landscape. The evidence we’ve unearthed suggests that the area was home to busy, thriving communities during the Iron Age and Roman periods.

“As well as pottery, a number of settlements have produced ironwork, animal bone and some evidence of industrial work too. This material helps us to understand what activities were taking place in the Iron Age and Roman periods, and how widespread they were.

“We’ve found some fantastic Roman pottery, often just discarded in ditches and pits. All these artefacts are now in the process of being cleaned and examined by specialists, who’ll be able to tell us if there are any unusual or rare forms and perhaps help us identify any high-status objects. It’s also possible some of the pottery was imported, and this could tell us a lot about trade links and commerce thousands of years ago.”

Archaeological work is set to continue at locations along the Dogger Bank A & B cable route into 2021.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm Consents Team Manager Jonathan Wilson, said: “The archaeological work taking place on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm cable route is a vital part of our work as a responsible developer. It is a great privilege to be able to unearth this fascinating history of the area as we work to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm, which will provide renewable energy for 6 million UK homes.”

About Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when completed in 2026.
  • It is being built in three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.
  • Dogger Bank A and B is 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.
  • SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm for the duration of the wind farm’s operational phase
  • Financial Close on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B was reached in November 2020. Financial Close for Dogger Bank C is expected in late 2021.
  • Consent for Dogger Bank Wind Farm was granted in 2015.
  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located in the North Sea, with each phase more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.
  • Onshore construction began in 2020 and is currently underway for Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B, with offshore construction on Dogger Bank A due to begin in Q2 2022. First power is expected in Summer 2023 and Summer 2024 for Dogger Bank A and B, respectively, with commercial operations to follow around 6 months later.
  • Turbine installation for Dogger Bank C will begin in 2025.
  • A total of 320 skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm have been announced so far.
  • This includes 120 skilled jobs at marshalling harbour Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool during construction, and 200 skilled jobs to be based offshore and at the Port of Tyne for Operations and Maintenance of the wind farm once operational.
  • Dogger Bank A and B has confirmed GE’s 13MW Haliade-X as the turbine powering the first two phases of the project. As the first order for the 13MW Haliade-X, installation at Dogger Bank A will be the first time the turbine is installed in the world.
  • Dogger Bank C will install GE’s upscaled 14MW Haliade-X turbine.
  • One rotation of the Haliade-X turbine blades can power one UK home for more than two days.
  • The wind turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.
  • The project will be the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected wind farm in the UK due to its distance from shore.

 

GE’s Haliade-X 14MW turbine to debut at Dogger Bank C

18th December 2020 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain

Dogger Bank Wind Farm and GE Renewable Energy have today confirmed GE as preferred turbine supplier for Dogger Bank C, announcing at the same time plans to pioneer the upscaled 14MW Haliade-X turbine for this phase.

The 14MW Haliade-X is an upscaled version of the 13MW Haliade-X, the most powerful turbine in operation today, and installation at Dogger Bank C will mark the first time these turbines will be installed at any project world-wide.

The Turbine Supply Agreement and Service and Warranty Agreements for Dogger Bank C will be finalised in the first quarter of 2021, confirming the order and number of turbines and marking continued progress in the delivery of the third phase of the wind farm. These agreements will be subject to Dogger Bank C, which is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor, reaching Financial Close in late 2021.

Installation of the turbines for Dogger Bank C is set to begin in 2025 ahead of completion of the overall project in 2026.

At 3.6GW Dogger Bank will be the largest wind farm in the world, capable of generating enough renewable power to provide around 5% of the UK’s electricity demand. It is being built in three 1.2GW phases; Dogger Bank A, B and C.

GE is now confirmed as supplying Haliade-X turbine technology to all three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm including a record-breaking order for 190 units of GE’s 13MW Haliade-X for phases A and B.

Steve Wilson, Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s Project Director at SSE Renewables, said: “We’re delighted to be working with GE Renewable Energy on all three phases of our development, as the first wind farm in the world to install their innovative and record-breaking Haliade-X turbine technology. Together with GE we are continuing to lead the way on innovation in the offshore wind industry and we’re proud that Dogger Bank will now use a 14MW turbine at Dogger Bank C alongside the 13MW turbine already confirmed for phases A and B.”

John Lavelle, President & CEO, Offshore Wind at GE Renewable Energy, said: “Dogger Bank C will use a 14MW version of the Haliade-X, the most powerful offshore wind turbine in operation today. In doing so, this unique project will both continue to build on the UK’s leadership in offshore wind and serve as a showcase for innovative technology that is helping to provide more clean, renewable energy.”

Halfdan Brustad, vice president for Dogger Bank at Equinor, said: “Once again, GE has demonstrated competitiveness with its ground-breaking Haliade-X, and we are delighted we will be working with them across all three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Turbine innovation has played a huge role in bringing down the cost of offshore wind, and these world-leading turbines will help us deliver renewable electricity at the lowest cost possible for millions of people across the UK. With our partner SSE Renewables, we are pioneering new technology whilst delivering a project that will create hundreds of skilled jobs. As operator for the project, we look forward to working with the GE team for many years to come.”

Located over 130 km off the north east coast of England, each phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be able to produce 6TWh of renewable electricity, totalling 18TWh annually, equivalent to powering six million UK homes each year.

For further information:

Media contact – Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Jason Cooke, SSE Renewables

jason.cooke@sse.com

+353 (0) 86 264 6710

Rachel Lawrence, SSE Renewables

rachel.lawrence@sse.com

+44 (0) 7385 368783

 HALIADE-X 14 MW FIGURES

  • 14 MW capacity
  • 220-metre rotor
  • 248 metres high
  • 107-metre long blades
  • 38,000 m2 swept area

IECRE Provisional RNA Component Certificate.

According to EPA Greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator

 About Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when completed in 2026.
  • It is being built in three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.
  • Dogger Bank A and B is 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.
  • SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm for the duration of the wind farm’s operational phase
  • Financial Close on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B was reached in November 2020. Financial Close for Dogger Bank C is expected in late 2021.
  • Consent for Dogger Bank Wind Farm was granted in 2015.
  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located in the North Sea, with each phase more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.
  • Onshore construction began in 2020 and is currently underway for Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B, with offshore construction on Dogger Bank A due to begin in Q2 2022. First power is expected in Summer 2023 and Summer 2024 for Dogger Bank A and B, respectively, with commercial operations to follow around 6 months later.
  • Turbine installation for Dogger Bank C will begin in 2025.
  • A total of 320 skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm have been announced so far.
  • This includes 120 skilled jobs at marshalling harbour Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool during construction, and 200 skilled jobs to be based offshore and at the Port of Tyne for Operations and Maintenance of the wind farm once operational.
  • Dogger Bank A and B has confirmed GE’s 13MW Haliade-X as the turbine powering the first two phases of the project. As the first order for the 13MW Haliade-X, installation at Dogger Bank A will be the first time the turbine is installed in the world.
  • Dogger Bank C will install GE’s upscaled 14MW Haliade-X turbine.
  • One rotation of the Haliade-X turbine blades can power one UK home for more than two days.
  • The wind turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.
  • The project will be the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected wind farm in the UK due to its distance from shore.

About SSE Renewables

SSE Renewables is a leading developer, owner and operator of renewable energy across the UK and Ireland, with a portfolio of around 4GW of onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro. Part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc, its strategy is to drive the transition to a net zero future through the world class development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets.

SSE Renewables owns nearly 2GW of operational onshore wind capacity t. Its 1,459MW hydro portfolio includes 300MW of pumped storage and 750MW of flexible hydro. Its operational offshore wind portfolio consists of 487MW across two offshore joint venture sites, Beatrice and Greater Gabbard, both of which it operates on behalf of its asset partners.

SSE Renewables is aiming to treble its renewable energy output by 2030. In addition to Dogger Bank Wind Farm, SSE Renewables is currently leading the construction of the Seagreen 1 offshore wind farm (1,075MW, SSE Renewables share: 49%) and is developing the Berwick Bank and Marr Bank offshore wind farms (up to 4,150MW) in Scotland, North Falls (up to 504MW, SSE Renewables share: 50%) in England, and Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 (520MW) in Ireland. Onshore it is constructing the Viking wind farm (443MW) in Shetland and Gordonbush Extension (38MW) and has a further 1GW of onshore wind in development.

SSE Renewables is a Principal Partner to the UK Government for COP26 UN climate summit taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.

About Equinor in the UK   

Equinor has been operating in the UK for over 35 years. Headquartered in Norway, the company employs 22,000 people globally, and over 650 in the UK. As a broad energy company, Equinor is committed to long term value creation in a low carbon future, and targeting carbon neutral operations globally by 2030.

Equinor is the UK’s leading energy provider and supports the UK economy by investing billions in crucial energy infrastructure, working with over 700 suppliers across the country. Its energy supplies from Norway meet more than one quarter of the UK’s demand for natural gas and around one fifth of its demand for oil, both produced with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. It operates the Mariner oil field, one of the largest and most digitally advanced offshore investments in the UK over the last decade, and is progressing Rosebank, the largest undeveloped field in the UK.

Both projects support hundreds of jobs and economic activity in Scotland. Equinor also operates two offshore wind farms off the East Coast of England, Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal. It is a pioneer in floating wind technology with Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm off the coast of Peterhead, which is partnered with Batwind, the world’s first battery for offshore wind. And with its partner SSE Renewables, Equinor is building the largest offshore wind farm in the world, Dogger Bank, off the North East coast of England. It is also a leader in both carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, and is developing a number of projects in Europe, including in the Humber and Teesside regions of North East England.

About GE Renewable Energy

GE Renewable Energy is a $15 billion business which combines one of the broadest portfolios in the renewable energy industry to provide end-to-end solutions for our customers demanding reliable and affordable green power. Combining onshore and offshore wind, blades, hydro, storage, utility-scale solar, and grid solutions as well as hybrid renewables and digital services offerings, GE Renewable Energy has installed more than 400+ gigawatts of clean renewable energy and equipped more than 90 percent of utilities worldwide with its grid solutions. With nearly 40,000 employees present in more than 80 countries, GE Renewable Energy creates value for customers seeking to power the world with affordable, reliable and sustainable green electrons.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson praises team behind world’s largest offshore windfarm

11th December 2020 in Press releases, Project news

The UK Prime Minister has today praised the team behind the Dogger Bank Wind Farm for the role it’s playing in bringing jobs and investment to the north of England, while driving a green economic recovery. 

Located over 130 km off the north east coast of England, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is pioneering new technology.

It will be the first project to use the largest commercially available turbine in the world, GE Renewable Energy’s 13MW Haliade-X, and due to its distance from shore, the first UK High Voltage Direct Current connected wind farm.

In a visit to the ORE Catapult, in Blyth, Northumberland, the Prime Minister said Dogger Bank Wind Farm would bring high quality jobs and investment and drive economic recovery. With a focus on skills and opportunities for young people he said the site was central to the UK’s power future, generating jobs and growth for years to come.

When fully completed in 2026, each phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be able to produce 6TWh of renewable electricity, totalling 18TWh annually – enough to supply around 5% of the UK’s demand and equivalent to powering six million UK homes each year.

ORE Catapult’s world-leading facility is currently testing GE’s record-breaking turbine, ahead of its installation on Dogger Bank Wind Farm. SSE Renewables and Equinor will install 190 of the innovative turbines in the first two phases of the development.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said: “Dogger Bank Wind Farm demonstrates innovation and ambition never before seen in the offshore wind industry, using the world’s most powerful wind turbines in operation, GE’s 13MW Haliade-X. To have this recognised by the UK Prime Minister is a tremendous boost for our highly-skilled team, who’ve worked so hard during the pandemic to keep the project on track to supply more than 6 million UK homes from 2026.

ORE Catapult’s Blyth testing facility is playing a critically important role in the development of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. The Prime Minister was visibly impressed with the expertise he encountered there, as well as the scale of GE’s giant turbine blades and nacelles.

“The Prime Minister clearly recognises the importance of our project in the green economic recovery of the UK, as we create the jobs that will boost the economy and the renewable energy that will significantly contribute to his net zero targets in our post-COVID world.”

Chief Executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Andrew Jamieson, said “Through our collaboration with GE Renewable Energy and LM Wind Power, the Catapult’s world leading test and validation facilities in Blyth are pivotal to delivering Haliade-X, the world’s leading offshore wind turbine, to Dogger Bank Wind Farm. As importantly, they are also at the heart of an extensive programme of UK academic research and innovation, supporting the growth of the UK supply chain and SMEs delivering the vital technologies to meet our net zero commitments and fuel the green economic recovery.

“We’re really pleased to see SSE Renewables and Equinor taking a world leading role in delivering Dogger Bank Wind Farm and adopting the breakthrough technologies of GE’s Haliade-X”.

Olivier Fontan, CEO of LM Wind Power, which is part of GE Renewable Energy, said: “It was a pleasure to show the Prime Minister GE’s world-leading Haliade-X, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine in operation today. The perfect technology for the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank. A single sweep of the Haliade-X blades will be able to power the average UK household for more than two days. Testing a blade of this size and complexity, at the ORE Catapult in Blyth, is a tremendous technological achievement.”

About Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm once complete.
  • It is being built in three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.
  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a Joint Venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor:

– When the transaction to sell a stake in the project to Eni completes in Q1 2021, the new shareholding in Dogger Bank A and B, will be SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%)

– Dogger Bank C remains a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.

  • SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
  • Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm for the duration of the wind farm’s operational phase of up to 35 years
  • Financial Close on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B was reached in November 2020. Financial Close for Dogger Bank C is expected in late 2021.
  • Consent was granted in 2015.
  • Located in the North Sea, with each phase more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.
  • Onshore construction began in 2020, and offshore construction will begin with turbine installation for Dogger Bank A in 2023
  • The first phase, Dogger Bank A, is expected to be operational in 2023. The wind farm is expected to be fully operational in 2026.
  • A total of 320 skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm have been announced so far.
  • This includes 120 skilled jobs at marshalling harbour Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool during construction, and 200 skilled jobs to be based offshore and at the Port of Tyne for Operations and Maintenance of the wind farm once operational.
  • Dogger Bank A and B has confirmed GE’s 13MW Haliade-X as the turbine powering the first two phases of the project, representing the first-ever install of what is the world’s largest wind turbine.
  • One rotation of the Haliade-X 13MW blades can power one UK home for more than two days.
  • The wind turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.
  • The project will be the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected wind farm in the UK due to its distance from shore.

 

Dogger Bank Wind Farm announces Eni as new partner for phases A and B

4th December 2020 in Press releases, Project news

  • Eni to take 20% stake in first two phases of world’s largest offshore wind farm.
  • Combined value of equity consideration is GBP £405m or GBP £202.5m to both SSE Renewables and Equinor for each 10% stake.
  • SSE Renewables and Equinor each to maintain 40% stakes in Dogger Bank A and B.
  • SSE Renewables to continue to lead construction of the project.
  • Equinor retains responsibility as lead operator for wind farm’s operational life.

04 December 2020: Dogger Bank Wind Farm owners SSE Renewables and Equinor have today confirmed Eni will join as a partner in the first two phases of the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.

Located over 130km off the north east coast of England, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in three 1.2GW phases and will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world when operational, with an overall capacity of 3.6GW.

The first two phases, Dogger Bank A and B are being constructed at the same time while the third phase, Dogger Bank C, is being developed on a different timescale.

Subject to regulatory and lender approvals Eni will enter the joint venture with a 20% stake in Dogger Bank A and B, equivalent to 480MW across these two phases when the transaction is complete in early 2021. The combined value of the equity consideration is GBP £405m, subject to adjustments for interest on closing, or GBP £202.5m to both SSE Renewables and Equinor for each 10% stake.

There is no change to the ownership of the third phase, Dogger Bank C, in which SSE Renewables and Equinor each have a 50% stake.

Both SSE Renewables and Equinor will each retain 40% in Dogger Bank A and B, with SSE Renewables continuing to lead the development and construction of the overall wind farm, and Equinor retaining responsibility for operation for the wind farm’s life of around 35 years.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said: “We and our existing partner Equinor look forward to welcoming Eni into our strong partnership. With all Tier One contracts finalised, and a record £5.5 billion project financing announced last week, everything is now in place to deliver on the first two phases of this world-leading project. The high level of interest we received from companies wanting to be part of the project demonstrates both the strength of the business case and the progress we’ve already made on the road to building the world’s largest offshore wind farm. We warmly welcome Eni to the Dogger Bank team and look forward to working with them on our ground-breaking venture.”

Claudio Descalzi, Chief Executive Officer of Eni, said: “For Eni, entering the offshore wind market in Northern Europe is a great opportunity to gain further skills in the sector thanks to the collaboration with two of the industry’s leading companies, and to make a substantial contribution to the 2025 target of 5GW of installed capacity from renewables, an intermediate step towards the more ambitious target of zero net direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions in Europe by 2050.”

Investment in the first two phases of the project has already secured the creation of 320 new skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of the wind farm, with more to come as construction ramps up.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the first project to use the largest commercially available turbines in the world, the 13MW GE Haliade-X. When fully completed in 2026, each phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be able to produce 6TWh of renewable electricity, totalling 18TWh annually – enough to supply 5% of the UK’s demand and equivalent to powering six million UK homes each year*.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm was awarded exclusive development rights for fifty years in 2010 by The Crown Estate as part of its third seabed licensing round. The project secured planning consent in 2015.

Onshore construction is currently underway for Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B, with offshore construction for Dogger Bank A due to begin in Q2 2022. For both phases, onshore and offshore cable and all turbine foundations will be installed by 2023. First power is expected in Summer 2023 and Summer 2024 for Dogger Bank A and B, respectively, with commercial operations to begin the following year.

For more about Dogger Bank Wind Farm, visit www.doggerbank.com.

Ends

 Picture caption: Dogger Bank Wind Farm owners SSE Renewables and Equinor have confirmed Eni will join as a partner in the first two phases of the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. Picture source: GE Renewable Energy.

 *6 million UK homes powered per annum based on Typical Domestic Consumption Values (Medium Electricity Profile Class 1, 2,900kWh per household; OFGEM, January 2020) and projected total generation output of 18TWh by 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

For further information:

Media contact – Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Jason Cooke, SSE Renewables

jason.cooke@sse.com

+353 (0) 86 264 6710

Rachel Lawrence, SSE Renewables

rachel.lawrence@sse.com

+44 (0) 7385 368783

Media contact – Eni:

Eni Press Office: Tel. +39 02 52031875 / +39 06 59822030

About Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm once complete.

It is being built in three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C.

When the transaction with Eni completes in Q1 2021, the new shareholding in Dogger Bank A and B, will be SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%).

Dogger Bank C remains a 50:50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.

SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm for the duration of the wind farm’s operational phase.

Financial Close on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B was reached in November 2020. Financial Close for Dogger Bank C is expected in late 2021.

Consent was granted in 2015.

Located in the North Sea, with each phase more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.

Onshore construction began in 2020, and offshore construction will begin with turbine installation for Dogger Bank A in 2023

The first phase, Dogger Bank A, is expected to be operational in 2023. The wind farm is expected to be fully operational in 2026.

A total of 320 skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm have been announced so far.

This includes 120 skilled jobs at marshalling harbour Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool during construction, and 200 skilled jobs to be based offshore and at the Port of Tyne for Operations and Maintenance of the wind farm once operational.

Dogger Bank A and B has confirmed GE’s 13MW Haliade-X as the turbine powering the first two phases of the project, representing the first-ever install of what is the world’s largest wind turbine.

One rotation of the Haliade-X 13MW blades can power one UK home for more than two days.

The wind turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.

The project will be the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected wind farm in the UK due to its distance from shore.

 About SSE Renewables

SSE Renewables is a leading developer, owner and operator of renewable energy across the UK and Ireland, with a portfolio of around 4GW of onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro. Part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc, its strategy is to drive the transition to a net zero future through the world class development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets.

SSE Renewables owns nearly 2GW of operational onshore wind capacity. Its 1,459MW hydro portfolio includes 300MW of pumped storage and 750MW of flexible hydro. Its operational offshore wind portfolio consists of 487MW across two offshore joint venture sites, Beatrice and Greater Gabbard, both of which it operates on behalf of its asset partners.

SSE Renewables is aiming to treble its renewable energy output by 2030. In addition to Dogger Bank Wind Farm, SSE Renewables is currently leading the construction of the Seagreen 1 offshore wind farm (1,075MW, SSE Renewables share: 49%) and is developing the Berwick Bank and Marr Bank offshore wind farms (up to 4,150MW) in Scotland, North Falls (up to 504MW, SSE Renewables share: 50%) in England, and Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 (520MW) in Ireland. Onshore it is constructing the Viking wind farm (443MW) in Shetland and Gordonbush Extension (38MW) and has a further 1GW of onshore wind in development.

SSE Renewables is a Principal Partner to the UK Government for COP26 UN climate summit taking place in Glasgow in November 2021.

About Equinor in the UK   

Equinor has been operating in the UK for over 35 years. Headquartered in Norway, the company employs 22,000 people globally, and over 650 in the UK. As a broad energy company, Equinor is committed to long term value creation in a low carbon future, and targeting carbon neutral operations globally by 2030.

Equinor is the UK’s leading energy provider and supports the UK economy by investing billions in crucial energy infrastructure, working with over 700 suppliers across the country. Its energy supplies from Norway meet more than one quarter of the UK’s demand for natural gas and around one fifth of its demand for oil, both produced with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry. It operates the Mariner oil field, one of the largest and most digitally advanced offshore investments in the UK over the last decade, and is progressing Rosebank, the largest undeveloped field in the UK.  Both projects support hundreds of jobs and economic activity in Scotland.

Equinor also operates two offshore wind farms off the East Coast of England, Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal. It is a pioneer in floating wind technology with Hywind Scotland, the world’s first floating wind farm off the coast of Peterhead, which is partnered with Batwind, the world’s first battery for offshore wind. And with its partner SSE Renewables, Equinor is building the largest offshore wind farm in the world, Dogger Bank, off the North East coast of England. It is also a leader in both carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, and is developing a number of projects in Europe, including in the Humber and Teesside regions of North East England.

 About Eni

Eni is an energy company operating in 66 countries worldwide and employing around 32,000 people. The company operates in oil and gas exploration, development and production, refining and marketing, trading and shipping, chemical, renewable energies and innovative solutions in circular economy. Eni’s mission is inspired by the UN 2030 Agenda and these values are reflected in its business model, itself based on three pillars of long-term carbon neutrality, operational excellence and the creation of alliances for local development.

The new Eni is based on efficiency, integration and the deployment of new technologies. Decarbonisation is structurally embedded in our overall strategy and ambitions and in Sustainalytics’ last update as of September 2020, Eni has achieved an ESG Risk Rating score of 25.7, ranking in the top 3% amongst its peers in the Energy Sector.

Eni has set the next intermediate target for renewables in 2035, when the company will generate 25 GW of installed capacity from renewable sources.

Eni is active in the UK as operator of the Liverpool Bay Area project in NW England, for which it was recently awarded a CO2 appraisal and storage licence by the Oil and Gas Authority.

Eni, together with BP, Equinor, National Grid, Shell and Total, has formed the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), with BP as operator. The partnership aims to develop offshore CO2 transport and storage infrastructure that will serve the two decarbonisation projects of the industrial clusters of NE England: Net Zero Teesside (of Which Eni is partner, and Zero Carbon Humber.

The two projects plan the combined capture and storage of climate-changing emissions from industrial sites and power plants, and the development of market for low emission hydrogen production (blue hydrogen).

UK authority consider this kind of project vital to support the Country’s effort to cut by 50% industrial emissions by 2030, while at the same time providing new jobs for the local communities.

Leading charities help Dogger Bank Wind Farm reach out to 22,000 people during global pandemic

27th November 2020 in Community News, Project news

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm has been able to offer support to more than 22,000 people in East Riding and the Tees Valley during the coronavirus, thanks to the efforts of two leading charities.

The County Durham Community Foundation and the Two Ridings Community Foundation have helped us to distribute around £35,000 to local groups since the start of the pandemic.

These include:

East Riding of Yorkshire  (supporting more than 16,500 local people)

  • Bridlington & District Samaritans
  • Kingstrust Network CIO: Gateway Community Care Hub
  • Welcome Centre, Hornsea
  • 6th Bridlington Scout Group
  • The Hinge Centre Limited
  • Home Start – Goole and District

Tees Valley (supporting nearly 6,000 people)

  • The Ladies of Steel
  • EVA Women’s Aid
  • Footprints in the Community
  • Coatham House Projects

 Steve Wilson, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “It has been a great privilege during the coronavirus pandemic to be able to reach out to more than 22,000 people with support from these two invaluable community foundations.

“The charities and organisations we’ve donated to offer a lifeline for families in their areas, helping with everything from foodbank packages and housing, to domestic and sexual abuse counselling and support.

“We’re proud to have played a small role in helping them to keep their doors open at a time when they were needed the most.”

Case study: Ladies of Steel

The community organisations received financial support to help them offer a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable and socially-isolated members of our community. But they couldn’t have done this without the volunteers who’ve made great personal sacrifices to maintain critical services.

Chris and Debbie Powlay have distributed more than £15,000-worth of food and essentials to vulnerable and elderly residents on Teesside during this period.

Whether it’s serving afternoon tea for Dormanstown pensioners, delivering medication to a local cancer sufferer or providing free meals for disadvantaged schoolchildren, Chris and Debbie have provided a lifeline to their local community.

“People are extremely grateful for what we do,” said Debbie. “I’ve had people say ‘I’m on my last slice of bread’ or that they have no milk. People have cried on their doorstep.

“I’m a big softie so I do get very emotional. Sometimes it’s happy crying because I see how much it means to them but other times I do come away with a tear in my eye because I’m sad for them.

“Some people are desperate, others are in isolation and are worried that they might have to go out to get food or medicines. Many elderly people aren’t internet-savvy so wouldn’t know where to start with an online shopping order.

“Sadly, people are falling through the cracks and it’s been a delight just to see them smiling.”

Debbie and Chris have delivered nearly 500 food parcels across Dormanstown and nearby areas including Redcar, Marske and Kirkleatham.

Michelle Cooper, Chief Executive of County Durham Community Foundation , said: “It was really heartening to have the Dogger Bank Wind Farm reach out and want to help in the pandemic: this is the future for a responsible and caring business that nourishes the community on its doorstep. By working together in this way, the project has shown compassion and foresight and we have been able to share our local knowledge and trusted connections to get the money where it can make a real difference, quickly.”

Case study: 6th Bridlington Scout Group

And it’s not just adults who’ve been lending a helping hand during this time, children have done their bit too.

The 6th Bridlington Scout Group used their funding from the Dogger Bank Wind Farm to supply essentials, provide distanced Zoom activities for mental wellbeing and support a grow and cook project in one of their deprived communities.

As a result, they’ve been able to reach out to more than 100 different families in Bridlington and its surrounding villages.

“We managed to get care packages to the vulnerable, the elderly, volunteers who have worked throughout the crisis, people who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a teenager fighting cancer and of course our scout families, who have been given a boost from your generosity as we cannot be scouting properly and they have enjoyed lots of professional Zoom sessions thanks to your generosity too,” said Ian Taylor.

Jan Garrill, Chief Executive of the Two Ridings Community Foundation, said: “Having this grant via Two Ridings from Dogger Farm Wind Farm has really made a huge difference to the lives of local people because we could put a smile on a lot of people’s faces which made a big impact in this difficult time.

“As not only did we give to the vulnerable, elderly, redundant and sick people we also managed to give boxes to other volunteers which was fantastic as these people have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and although don’t do it for reward, really appreciated that they had been thought about. And one elderly lady really touched us, as she said she often feels forgotten and this pack really gave her a boost. So we have helped people retain their mental wellbeing throughout this, so thank you very much, you have really made a difference to a lot of people.”

For further information:

Media contact – Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

Rachel Lawrence, SSE Renewables

rachel.lawrence@sse.com

+44 (0) 7385 368783

 About Dogger Bank Wind Farm:

  • Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm once complete.
  • It is a 50:50 joint venture between Equinor and SSE Renewables.
  • SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm for the duration of the wind farm’s operational phase
  • Financial Close on Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B was reached in November 2020. Financial Close for Dogger Bank C is expected in late 2021.
  • Consent was granted in 2015.
  • Located in the North Sea, with each phase more than 130km from the Yorkshire Coast.
  • Onshore construction began in 2020, and offshore construction will begin with turbine installation for Dogger Bank A in 2023
  • The first phase, Dogger Bank A, is expected to be operational in 2023. The overall wind farm is expected to be completed in 2026.
  • A total of 320 skilled jobs for the North East of England associated with the development and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm have been announced so far.
  • This includes 120 skilled jobs at marshalling harbour Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool during construction, and 200 skilled jobs to be based offshore and at the Port of Tyne for Operations and Maintenance of the wind farm once operational.
  • Dogger Bank A and B has confirmed GE’s 13MW Haliade-X as the turbine powering the first two phases of the project. As the first order for the 13MW Haliade-X, installation at Dogger Bank A will be the first time the turbine is installed in the world.
  • One rotation of the Haliade-X 13MW blades can power one UK home for more than two days.
  • The wind turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.
  • The project will be the first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) connected wind farm in the UK due to its distance from shore.