23rd May 2025 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Third North Sea HVDC platform marks installation completion of offshore substations on all three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
- Pioneering design reduces topside weight by as much as 70% compared to traditional designs.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its delivery partners have successfully completed the installation of the HVDC offshore substation platform at Dogger Bank C, marking the installation completion of all three offshore substations on the world’s largest offshore wind farm under construction.
Manufactured and supplied by Aibel and installed by Heerema Marine Contractors’ Sleipnir vessel, the Dogger Bank C platform measures approximately 75 x 50 metres across and 36 metres high and sits on a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure which is fixed to the seabed, at an average water depth of around 23m.
The installation of the Dogger Bank C offshore substation topside onto the platform jacket followed on from the safe installation of the platform jacket by Heerema’s Sleipnir vessel a week earlier.
Olly Cass, Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“The installation of our third offshore substation platform marks a significant leap on our journey to delivering renewable energy for around 6 million UK homes annually once the wind farm is complete.
“Our strong partnership with Aibel, Hitachi Energy and our installation partners, with Heerema installing this third platform, has been key to the seamless completion and handover of these three pioneering structures.
“This is a significant moment for the project team, our delivery partners and for the UK’s clean energy transition.”
The innovative Aibel platform has a lean design and was the first unmanned HVDC platform to be installed in 2023, when the first of the project’s three platforms was successfully delivered at the Dogger Bank A phase. The substations are designed to be operated from shore and accessed only by a Service Operations Vessel.
Further commissioning activities will now be carried out on the platform to prepare it for future transmission of renewable energy.
Fitted with Hitachi Energy’s latest generation HVDC converter technology, Dogger Bank is the first offshore wind project in the UK to use this technology to transmit the electricity produced back to shore, ensuring the electricity is transmitted efficiently over long distances while minimising losses.
Each of the three platforms will be capable of receiving 1.2GW of AC power generated by Dogger Bank’s offshore wind turbines and converting that renewable energy to DC, before sending that clean, homegrown power ashore to three onshore convertor stations, near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire and near Redcar on Teesside.
Mads Andersen, Aibel President and CEO, said:
“The successful installation of the DBC converter platform marks a proud milestone for Aibel and our partner Hitachi Energy. We are honoured to have contributed to the world’s largest offshore wind farm by delivering three lean and effective converter platforms. This achievement reflects the strength of our collaboration with the client partners, the dedication of our teams, and our shared commitment to accelerating the energy transition.”
Martijn Kuipers, Project Director for Doggerbank C at Heerema, said:
“Completing the installation of the Dogger Bank C offshore substation platform marks a proud milestone for Heerema. The thorough preparations and seamless collaboration between Sleipnir’s skilled crew, our project team, Dogger Bank Wind Farm and our subcontractors, enabled us to safely and successfully install the jacket and topside. This achievement reflects Heerema’s commitment to delivering complex offshore projects with precision and innovation, and we are proud to contribute to the UK’s energy transition.”
11th April 2025 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has signed a contract with Seaway7, part of the Subsea7 Group, to charter a second turbine installation vessel to support the ongoing delivery of the offshore wind farm off the coast of England.
This contract signing follows on from the earlier reservation agreement between Dogger Bank Wind Farm and Seaway7, announced in December 2024.
Under the contract, the Seaway Ventus jack-up installation vessel will commence turbine transport and installation work of GE Vernova Haliade-X offshore wind turbines at the Dogger Bank site in mid-2026.
This contract represents additional work for Seaway7 at the Dogger Bank development where the company already has the contracts for transport and installation of the monopile foundations and transition pieces on all three phases of the project, with the works on Dogger Bank A complete and the works on Dogger Bank B substantially complete.
Turbine installation and commissioning work is continuing at Dogger Bank A, with completion of the first phase of the offshore wind farm expected in the second half of calendar year 2025.
When fully complete, Dogger Bank will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, capable of powering around 6 million UK homes annually.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is leading construction of the project on behalf of the three joint venture partners. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
25th March 2025 in Supply Chain
Alicat Workboats is a specialised ship builder based in Great Yarmouth, England, that designs and constructs high-performance workboats. They are a supplier to the offshore wind industry, providing essential crew transfer vessels and other support craft. Beyond boat building, they offer a range of marine and engineering services, including vessel maintenance, repairs, and fabrication, catering to diverse needs within the maritime sector.
In our latest supplier case study video, learn from Simon Coote, Alicat Workboats General Manager, how Alicat are supporting the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
3rd February 2025 in Project news, Supply Chain
North Star has officially named and handed over its latest service operations vessel (SOV), the Grampian Tweed, completing the company’s fleet of dedicated ships serving the Dogger Bank Wind Farm on long-term charter.
The Grampian Tweed is the fourth SOV introduced to support the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. This achievement builds on the strong foundation of collaboration, innovation, and shared expertise throughout North Star’s and Dogger Bank’s supply chain, with all four hybrid-powered ships designed to provide crucial logistical and safety support for the maintenance and operation of the wind farm.
“The naming of the Grampian Tweed is a proud moment for all of us across the business,” said Gitte Gard Talmo, CEO of North Star. “Our in-house teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that this SOV, alongside its sister vessels, meets the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The early handover of all these ships not only reinforces our partnership with Equinor and SSE Renewables but also strengthening our role in the transition to a greener, more sustainable energy future.”
The Grampian Tweed’s naming ceremony, held at Associated British Ports (ABP) new Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility, was attended by representatives from North Star, Equinor, SSE Renewables, and local stakeholders.
Grampian Tweed service operations vessel
Emma Sayer, the Grampian Tweed’s godmother has been a valued member of North Star’s crewing team in Lowestoft for over 16 years. She played a key role in the naming ceremony which also featured a blessing from Rev. Peter Paine and speeches from Julian Walker, CCO & regional director of ABP, and Kamala Hajiyeva, VP & head of the Dogger Bank Development.
Kamala Hajiyeva, VP and head of Dogger Bank Wind Farm development said:
“With the arrival of the Grampian Tweed SOV, we celebrate the last of four vessels delivered to the project. The Grampian Tweed also 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 operations and maintenance of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”
Once complete, Dogger Bank will become the largest offshore wind farm in the world, with 3.6GW of generating capacity, enough to power up to six million homes annually. The addition of the Grampian Tweed to the fleet highlights the crucial role that North Star and its vessels play in supporting the continued development and success of the wind farm.
SSE Renewables Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Olly Cass, said:
“Congratulations to the team at North Star for achieving another significant milestone for our pioneering project. Today’s ceremony takes place in the region where our hybrid-powered daughter craft were built, once again demonstrating the huge amount of UK skills and expertise involved in delivering and operating the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”
Over the past three years, North Star has invested £270m and placed 160 experienced seafarers to support its Dogger Bank tonnage and will recruit a further 160 seafarers for its expanding SOV fleet in the next three years to meet current contract charter commitments.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is proud to support the UK’s offshore wind supply chain and has created more than 2,000 UK jobs in relation to the construction and operation activities of the project.
Image caption: North Star’s Grampian Tweed Masters Michael Dodd and Juan A. Escribano flank North Star CEO Gitte Gard Talmo, ABP’s CCO and regional director Julian Walker, and Kamala Hajiyeva, VP and Head of Development for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm
11th December 2024 in Supply Chain
- Agreement charters second turbine installation vessel for ongoing delivery of Dogger Bank
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has today signed a vessel reservation agreement with Seaway7, part of the Subsea7 Group, to charter a second turbine installation vessel to support the ongoing delivery of the offshore wind farm off the coast of England.
Starting in 2026, the Seaway Ventus jack-up installation vessel is expected to commence turbine transport and installation work of GE Vernova Haliade-X offshore wind turbines at the Dogger Bank site.
This agreement represents additional work for Seaway7 at the Dogger Bank development where the company has the contracts for transport and installation of the monopile foundations and transition pieces on all three phases of the project, with the works on Dogger Bank A complete and the works on Dogger Bank B substantially complete.
Turbine installation and commissioning work is continuing at Dogger Bank A, with completion of the first phase of the offshore wind farm expected in the second half of calendar year 2025.
When fully complete in 2027, Dogger Bank will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, capable of powering around 6 million UK homes annually.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE Renewables is leading construction of the project on behalf of the three joint venture partners. Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
