26th September 2022 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Convertor station works begin for third phase of world’s largest offshore wind farm
- Work carried out by Hitachi Energy and supported by sub-contractor Keltbray
- Keltbray awarded civil engineering contracts for all 3 phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm
- Official ground-breaking event held at Hitachi site in Redcar
- Up to 170 UK-based roles supporting construction of the wind farm’s three convertor stations at peak of work
Work has started on the convertor station for the third phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm
Tier one contractor Hitachi Energy and civil engineering sub-contractor Keltbray will construct the convertor station on the Sembcorp complex near Lazenby in Teesside.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Senior Project Manager Alan Borland, said:
“Starting work on the third convertor station for the world’s largest offshore wind farm is another exciting milestone for the whole team.
“It’s great to see our tier one supplier awarding another civil contract to Keltbray, a company which has played a key role in the development of the first two phases of the project.
“Dogger Bank Wind Farm will provide an affordable and secure source of renewable energy for 6 million UK homes from 2026.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in the North Sea more than 130km from the Yorkshire coast in three phases known as Dogger Bank A, B and C. Dogger Bank A and B phases will connect to the national grid near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire, while Dogger Bank C will connect to the grid near Redcar, in Teesside.
The world-class renewable energy project, which will be capable of powering 6 million UK homes annually on completion, is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni Plenitude (20%).
It 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.
Hitachi Energy is supplying the HVDC systems to connect the wind farm to the national grid at Creyke Beck in East Riding and Lackenby near Redcar. Each phase of the project will have both an offshore and onshore convertor station to facilitate efficient transmission of renewable energy via HVDC subsea and onshore underground HVDC and HVAC cables. The two convertor stations in East Riding of Yorkshire are currently under construction at the A1079 site between Beverley and Cottingham.
In Summer 2021 Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Redcar MP Jacob Young signalled the start of site preparation work for the Dogger Bank C convertor station by specialists Jones Bros Civil –Engineering UK. Last week representatives from Dogger Bank, Hitachi Energy and Keltbray Group gathered to mark the start of work on the third onshore convertor station on the pre-prepared site, which is due to be completed by Q1 2025.
Keltbray is one of several UK-based firms to secure contracts on the world’s largest offshore wind farm, with more than 1,500 UK roles already created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Durham-based and family-owned steel construction firm Finleys is one of the businesses that has helped with the construction of the first two convertor stations near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire. Up to 170 UK based roles will be supported on the two convertor station construction sites during peak times for the project.
Goran Isacsson, Project Director for Hitachi Energy, said:
“The start of construction work at the Dogger Bank C converter station here in Redcar is a great moment for the Hitachi Energy team. We are proud to be delivering three HVDC® Light converter stations for the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Banker Wind Farm. HVDC technology significantly contributes towards a carbon-neutral energy future by enabling the integration of large-scale and remote renewable energy generation.”
Keltbray Highways Managing Director, Vip Gandhi said:
“The ground-breaking ceremony marks an exciting milestone in continuing our involvement with the prestigious Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Phase C gives us the opportunity to continue providing opportunities to local people and supply chain, collectively working towards a renewable future.”
ENDS
Picture caption: Keltbray Highways Managing Director – Vip Gandhi, Dogger Bank C Project Manager – James O’Hara, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Commercial Director – Simon Bailey, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Senior Project Manager – Alan Borland and Hitachi Project Director – Goran Isacsson.
22nd September 2022 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
NKT is set to produce low-carbon copper cables for the third phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, significantly reducing the project’s carbon footprint during construction.
NKT, its supplier and customers have entered into an agreement to use low-carbon copper for the 320 kV HVDC cables the company is delivering to the third phase of the wind farm, known as Dogger Bank C.
The use of low-carbon copper will reduce the carbon footprint of the HV cable systems by more than 23 000 metric tons of CO2 (1), which is equivalent to 7,700 average family cars driven for one year (2).
Following a preferred supplier agreement announced in 2020, Dogger Bank Wind confirmed NKT as the main contractor for delivery and installation of high-voltage DC (HVDC) onshore and offshore export cable systems for Dogger Bank C in June 2021.
Simon Bailey, Commercial Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm at SSE Renewables said:
“Along with our partners Equinor and Eni Plenitude, we are constantly looking at ways to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible throughout the construction process. It is fantastic that our HVDC export cable supplier, NKT, will use a low-carbon copper, which will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the construction works on Dogger Bank. The HVDC cable is a crucial component, as it will connect power generated from the windfarm to the national grid.”
Alexander Kara, President & CEO of NKT said:
“This pioneering cooperation with our customers and suppliers enables us to produce even more sustainable cables using low-carbon copper. I am pleased that we have set up this game changing collaboration, so we can continue contributing to connecting a greener world. This will ultimately help us meet our sustainability commitments, including becoming a net-zero emission company.”
The low-carbon copper cathodes come from the Boliden Aitik mine in Northern Sweden. Vehicles in the mine and the smelters are powered by fossil free electricity and the delivery of copper cathodes is done domestically by electric train from the mine to Elcowire in Helsingborg that in efficient processes then produces the low-carbon copper wires.
The use of low-carbon copper will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of NKT’s cables as it comes with less than half the carbon footprint of standard copper, which has been third-party validated The manufacturing of the high voltage cables takes place in NKTs factory in Karlskrona in Sweden, which is running on 100 % renewable electricity.
Installation of the cable system at Dogger Bank C in the North Sea will be done by NKT Victoria, one of the world’s most advanced and fuel-efficient cable laying vessels.
(1) Low-carbon copper from Boliden has a carbon footprint of less than 1,5 kg CO2eq/kg of copper, which is significantly lower than the European average of 4,1 kg CO2eq/kg of copper.
(2) Gasoline-powered family cars. Source: EPA-United States Environmental Protection Agency.
21st September 2022 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
- Almost 73 miles of onshore HVDC cable weighing 3,500 tonnes installed in East Riding of Yorkshire
- Cable installation was carried out by North Wales-based Jones Bros Civil Engineering and supported by Bristol-based Powersystems UK and North Yorkshire cable specialists FB Taylor
- Initial ground preparation and drilling works supported by Essex-based Joseph Gallagher Group
- Cable work integral to future transmission of renewable energy from the world’s largest offshore wind farm to UK homes and businesses
The team building Dogger Bank Wind Farm has safely installed almost 73 miles of HVDC underground cables in East Riding of Yorkshire in another giant milestone for the world-leading project.
Onshore construction for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm began in January 2020 when Jones Bros Civil Engineering broke ground near the village of Ulrome in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The North Wales civil engineering specialists have installed almost 73 miles of HVDC cables in East Riding, with support from Bristol-based Powersystems UK and North Yorkshire cable installation specialists F B Taylor.
Jones Bros commenced installation of the cable ducting system in spring 2020, with the support of Essex-based Joseph Gallagher undertaking a series of horizontal directional drills in preparation for cable installation works to begin last summer.
This latest milestone marks the completion of HVDC cable installation work in East Riding, with the team now focusing on the installation of around four miles of HVAC cable from its convertor station site near Beverley, to the Creyke Beck electricity sub-station near Cottingham.
Work is also underway to reinstate the land to its former condition, following completion of this part of the programme.
Onshore project manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Oliver Flattery, said:
“The whole team has worked incredibly hard and diligently since the start of 2020 to safely and efficiently prepare the 30km route, through a combination of trenching and drilling methods, before installing protective ducts and then feeding 3,362 tonnes of underground cables through these ducts.
“This has been a huge undertaking, and one we’re all proud to have been part of.
“We thank local residents and businesses in East Riding of Yorkshire for their patience and understanding over the last 2 years while this work has been taking place.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built in the North Sea more than 130km from the Yorkshire coast in three phases known as Dogger Bank A, B and C. Dogger Bank A and B phases will connect to the national grid near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire, while Dogger Bank C will connect to the grid near Redcar in the Tees Valley.
The world-class renewable energy project, which will be capable of powering 6 million UK homes annually on completion, is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni Plenitude (20%).
The electricity generated by the Dogger Bank A and B wind turbines will come ashore south of Bridlington at Ulrome in East Riding, and be transmitted via underground HVDC cables to the onshore convertor station site in East Riding.
The HVDC cable route ends at the convertor station site near Beverley, where two convertor stations are currently under construction. Here, the electricity will be converted from HVDC to HVAC current for transmission to homes and businesses via the UK grid network.
The Dogger Bank project is the first offshore wind farm in the UK to use HVDC technology, which allows electricity to be transmitted efficiently across long distances.
Jones Bros project manager James Lockwood said:
“Hitting this key milestone on the world’s largest offshore wind farm has been made possible thanks to the efforts of every individual on site.
“I know it brings everyone from senior managers to trainees and apprentices a great sense of pride to be associated with this project, and we’re excited to see how the rest of the scheme develops.”
Nigel Baldwin, Health and Safety Director for F B Taylor, said:
“Working on the largest offshore wind farm has been a humbling experience for all involved and something that we are immensely proud of. We would like to thank the full site team for their work ethic and support during this project and hope to be involved with many more offshore opportunities throughout the coming years”.
Jonathan Stock, Head of Projects for Powersystems UK, said:
“We are very pleased to announce the completion of the HVDC cable installation at Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore windfarm. This is a huge achievement for all involved and particularly the efforts of the Powersystems UK team, our supply chain partners FB Taylors and Collett Transport and partners Jones Bros.
“The team showed great pride, professionalism, proactiveness, partnership and priority towards health, safety, environment, and quality.”
Tony Matheson, Director at Joseph Gallagher Limited, said:
“This has been a fantastic project to work on over the past two years. Our team have been instrumental throughout, operating four horizontal directional drilling rigs simultaneously during peak times, installing an impressive 27km of duct in 140 drills – ranging from 50m to 620m and then returning to grout the cables after the install.
“It’s been a true collaborative effort working with Jones Bros throughout the project. The team’s work ethic shone through helping to deliver the project to programme and with safety at the forefront – something we are very proud to have been part of.”
Offshore construction work on the first two phases of the project began in April with the start of work to install sub-sea HVDC cables off the Yorkshire coast. And in July the project celebrated the successful installation of the first foundation in the North Sea. Next year the team will install the first turbine on Dogger Bank A, with a total 277 GE Renewable Energy Haliade-X turbines set to be installed on all three phases of the project by 2026.
Onshore work is also underway on the third phase of the windfarm in the Tees Valley, where the project is collaborating with neighbouring Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, owned by RWE, to minimise disruption to the local community.
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Picture caption: Dogger Bank Wind Farm has successfully installed nearly 73 miles of HVDC cables in East Riding of Yorkshire for the first two phases of the project.
27th July 2022 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has agreed a contract with Manor Renewable Energy (MRE) to provide the temporary offshore power solution to support the construction of all three phases of the wind farm.
The contract represents MRE’s largest challenge to date, and will lead to the creation of around 20 new jobs. The jobs will be based largely in the north and north-east of England, and will provide entry-level opportunities for those wanting to begin a career in offshore renewables. Many of the new workers will be based at a new temporary operational home to be set up by MRE in the north-east.
The generators will be manufactured in the UK by JCB at the company’s Staffordshire location.
In an innovative approach to tackle the challenge of working more than 130km off the Yorkshire coast, MRE will use its generator recycling strategy to streamline the number of systems required, maintaining and refilling them using walk-to-work vessels.
Toby Mead, Chief Operating Officer at MRE, said:
“Preparations for the first phase of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm project are underway now, with MRE input starting in early 2023. From our interactions it’s clear from the outset that the client’s project team are driven to deliver this project with as much local content as possible and that’s a real plus for this landmark UK project. Bringing new people into the offshore industry has always been an important part of our company recruitment process, and this project will allow for a large number of new hires to enter the wind industry and gain experience during the construction of the largest offshore wind farm in the world; and that’s an exciting prospect.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Senior Project Manager, Alan Borland, said:
“Manor Renewable Energy will provide us with a safe, reliable and flexible temporary power solution during the construction of our turbines.
“The company’s generator recycling strategy allows us to operate a much smaller number of generators than a typical operation of this scale and because our turbines will self-sustain once commissioned, we’re able to operate them for a short period of time.
We’re delighted to be able to award Manor its largest contract of this kind, that will in turn provide employment opportunities in a variety of roles based largely around the north and north-east of England.”
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Picture caption: Dogger Bank Wind Farm has agreed a contract with Manor Renewable Energy (MRE) to provide the temporary offshore power solution to support the construction of all three phases of the wind farm (Image source: Manor Renewable Energy).
19th May 2022 in Events, Press releases, Supply Chain
- Event Date: 19th May 2022
- Location: Virtual
Dogger Bank Wind Farm today hosts a supply chain event, focused around skills in offshore wind, a first for developer led supply chain events. Growth in the sector continues to accelerate and skills is high on the agenda for industry locally and nationally. The event will explore the skills challenge and how Dogger Bank Wind Farm is working to address this through industry and community engagement.
200 attendees have registered ahead of the event, highlighting the importance of skills to the supply chain in North East England, one of the largest and most established offshore wind clusters in the UK.
The event brings together regional and national industry experts as well as employees from the wind farm to discuss how developers can make a wider impact than job creation, by supporting activities in the areas impacted by their operations and beyond.
Tom Nightingale, North East Stakeholder Manager said “Developing the talent of tomorrow is at the heart of our community investment for Dogger Bank and we are working with local authorities, skills providers and community groups across the North and North East of England to support this. As part of our supply chain initiatives in 2022, we are determined to raise skills to the top of the agenda through this event and look forward to sharing the knowledge and experience of our panel. We hope to educate and inspire the supply chain to support skills initiatives as well as learning from their own experiences”.
Recruitment for the operations team continues to ramp up with leadership positions now filled in key areas as well as recently the first 10 Wind Turbine Technicians. New recruits have joined from within offshore wind as well as transferring from other sectors such as oil & gas and automotive, with a focus on recruiting a local and diverse team. Looking ahead, working with local industry groups and education institutions is essential to building a future skills pipeline. The skills event includes insights from Energi Coast skills group, the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC), Dogger Bank Community Fund and the Dogger Bank operations team.
Celia Anderson, Offshore Wind Sector Deal – Director of People & Skills said “The offshore wind industry is experiencing huge growth and projects such as Dogger Bank Wind Farm play a key role in preparing the next generation for future roles with operational experience. At the same time there are many opportunities to attract talent from other sectors and I am delighted to support this event and share how the UK’s offshore wind sector can successfully grow around regional clusters, whilst building a more diverse pipeline and workforce.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be located more than 130 km off the North East coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni Plenitude, SSE Renewables is leading on Dogger Bank construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm for its lifetime, from a new base to be constructed at Port of Tyne.
