23rd August 2021 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
Beeford Bowling Club has become the first community group to receive a financial award from Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s new operators fund.
The £500 award will enable the group to lay a concrete base for its new equipment storage shed, as it supports members of the community to become more active following months in lockdown.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm launched its £1 million construction fund in June. The programme will enable all 124 primary schools in East Riding of Yorkshire and all 18 secondary schools in South Tyneside to increase and expand their science, technology, engineering and maths provision. Meanwhile, local community groups can apply for grants up to £500 to at https://doggerbank.com/about/community/
Work started on the onshore infrastructure for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm last year. These phases will meet landfall at Ulrome in East Riding of Yorkshire, and connect to the National Grid between Beverley and Cottingham. The third phase of the wind farm will meet landfall at Redcar on Teesside, connecting to the National Grid at Lackenby.
Rachel Lawrence, Community Engagement Manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said:
“Social isolation and lack of physical activity have both been major issues for vulnerable groups in our communities during the lockdown period. We’re delighted our first award will support a group offering a lifeline to Beeford residents, helping them to reintegrate into their community while being physically active. Despite their best efforts, the group has struggled to raise vital funds due to COVID restrictions. We couldn’t be happier to step in and support this community that has welcomed and supported us as we build the onshore infrastructure for the first two phases of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in East Riding of Yorkshire.”
Beeford Bowling Club Chairman, Cliff Hollingsworth, said:
“The past two seasons have been hard for the club as we have not been able to have fundraising events to allow us to improve our facilities. Any grants to help us do this are more than welcome and this £500 from Dogger Bank Wind Farm has come at the right time to allow us to get the base done for our new shed which means we can now follow through with this before the winter. So many thanks again from Beeford Bowling Club.”
Dogger Bank wind farm is being built in three phases, Dogger Bank A, B and C. Dogger Bank A and B are a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%). Dogger Bank C is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (50%) and Equinor (50%). SSE renewables is leading on the construction of the wind farm and Equinor will operate the wind farm for its lifetime of up to 35 years.
28th July 2021 in Blogs, Press releases, Project news
As a graduate engineer working on the world’s largest offshore wind farm Grant Beaton is not only developing his professional expertise, but he’s also feeding his desire to play a critical role in the global energy transition.
The 24-year-old University of Strathclyde graduate shares an insight into his role on Dogger Bank Wind Farm, offers advice to industry hopefuls and talks about why a trainee engineer should never stop asking questions.
“After leaving school I went to study a Masters in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. Doing a joint degree was challenging but definitely worthwhile, and I’m keen to develop my knowledge of both fields as I progress in my role on Dogger Bank Wind Farm as a graduate engineer.
“The renewable energy industry is constantly growing and is a sector that will continue to innovate as we meet the demands of the net zero journey, so I was thrilled to be able to join the Dogger Bank team in September 2020.
“I’ve always had a keen interest in the pursuit of solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems, and that’s pretty much what drove my desire to become an engineer. Even from the start of my studies until now there has been a real shift in the momentum of people wanting their energy to be produced in a more sustainable way, and it’s exciting to be part of that change.
“It’s been incredible to be working on a project the size of Dogger Bank and to be able to say you’ve contributed to it, but I can’t deny it’s also been a real learning curve. The hard work and ingenuity that goes on across the team on a daily basis is inspiring. As a young professional just starting out on a career path it’s been invaluable to understand the challenges and strengths required to make a project like this a success. That’s something that will stick with me for the rest of my career and will undoubtedly shape the engineer I’ll become.
“My long-term goals are to help the industry to achieve the net zero vision. On a short-term personal level I’m pretty open-minded about where my career will take me and what I’d like to do after finishing the graduate scheme. Throughout the two years I want to gain as much experience as possible, in as many business areas and teams as I can, and I’m obviously spoilt for choice when it comes to working on the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
“I’ve got a brilliant opportunity to work in roles I’ve had little or no knowledge about previously and I feel that will only be beneficial to my future career. I want to understand as much as possible about how the different teams and departments work together to bring projects like Dogger Bank through to completion.
“I have no regrets about the career choices I’ve made and would advise green-energy hopefuls to be open-minded about where they might fit into the renewable industry. Even if there is something you’re currently really passionate about, I’ve learnt that giving the time to different areas is beneficial to increase your knowledge, experience and overall confidence. I also think the best thing a young engineer can do is to keep asking questions, no matter how simple or complex they may be. Asking a question and getting an explanation that finally makes something click can take all of 2 minutes, but will make all the difference to the contribution you can make to a project like Dogger Bank.
“It’s hard to go half a day these days without hearing another story illustrating the severity of the climate crisis we find ourselves in. With the capacity to provide renewable energy for 6 million UK homes, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is demonstrating what can be achieved when you build on this scale using some of the world’s best available technology.
“I’ve got a real opportunity to contribute to this world-leading project and shape the future of green energy. I can’t think of another graduate opportunity that holds more promise for a young engineer.”
Grant Beaton, Graduate Engineer, Dogger Bank Wind Farm
23rd July 2021 in Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain, Uncategorised
South Tyneside manufacturer Metec UK has won two multi-million pound contracts on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
Metec UK manufactures sacrificial anodes for the long-term protection of steel jackets and foundations against corrosion, and is used in the offshore renewable energy industry.
The fast-growing company, established only four years ago, will supply cathodic protection sacrificial anodes for transition pieces and monopiles, for the first two phases of the record-breaking wind farm.
Built by SSE Renewables and operated by Equinor, the wind farm has already created or supported thousands of new jobs and will be built in three phases, Dogger Bank A, B and C.
Alberto Via, UK Managing Director of METEC UK, said:
“Over the last six months we’ve been absolutely delighted to win a number of domestic and international contracts, including in Scotland, France and Holland. These latest successes – and in particular the flagship Dogger Bank Wind Farm contract – justifies our commitment to South Tyneside, the north-east and the UK. Our success demonstrates our ability to support large, important and prestigious renewable energy projects of this nature throughout the UK and Europe.
“We have the capacity, capability and expertise at Metec that places us right at the heart of where we need to be in an industry which is set to see significant growth and investment over the next 10 years.
“As a young, ambitious and expanding company, which has invested over £4 million in premises and furnaces since 2017, we expect to see further growth throughout 2021. We are in this for the long term and we’re very excited for the future of Metec and the industry as a whole.”
Metec UK, which has manufacturing facilities in South Shields and Tunisia with representation around the globe, is a leading manufacturer of corrosion protection for high value subsea assets. Initially employing just six people, the company now has 45 people within its business.
Halfdan Brustad, Vice President for Dogger Bank at Equinor, said:
“As we build up our operations in South Tyneside it’s great to see a local company not only win this flagship contract with the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, but also exporting to other countries.
“With ambitious targets to quadruple UK capacity in the next decade, the offshore wind industry provides billions of pounds of supply chain opportunities, and in supporting UK companies we will also build up a competitive supply chain that can win international contracts.
“We look forward to continuing to work with UK companies, particularly in northern England where we will operate the wind farm for decades to come.”
Metec UK is a sub-contractor with Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s tier one contractor, Smulders. Smulders was selected for the supply, fabrication and fit-out of the secondary steel for the transition pieces in late 2020. Smulders will work alongside Sif, the company selected to provide fabrication and supply of 190 monopiles and primary steel for the transition pieces.
21st July 2021 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
History students from Outwood Academy Bydales in Marske-by-the Sea got a glimpse of their local area’s past when they visited an archaeological dig being carried out for two giant offshore wind energy projects.
Twenty year 8 students walked only 200 metres from their school to see the World War I practice trenches uncovered by Durham University’s Archaeological Services (DUAS) as part of the pre-construction survey being carried out for Dogger Bank C and Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
The separate wind farm projects are sited on Dogger Bank in the middle of the North Sea, more than 190 kilometres from the north-east coast of England. The power they produce will be transmitted by export cables that arrive on shore between Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea, on Teesside.
Despite different ownership – Sofia is owned by RWE Renewables while Dogger Bank C is the third phase in the wider Dogger Bank Wind Farm project and is owned 50/50 by SSE Renewables and Equinor – the projects are cooperating closely due to their proximity and to reduce impacts on local stakeholders.
Archaeologists from Durham University talked to students about the archaeological works on the site, why they are necessary for an offshore wind farm and how the information is recorded and analysed.
History teacher Gemma Green was able to give them details about why the more than 100-year-old trenches were there and the wider historical context. During WWI, the area was an airfield, set up as a ‘finishing school’ for pilots to learn combat flying.
“What an opportunity to witness WW1 history on our doorstep” said Gemma.
“We usually associate trenches with Northern France and Belgium but this gave our students and staff the chance to uncover that soldiers practiced digging trenches here in Marske before heading to the Western Front. This really brought history to life.”
The site near the landfall is now a modern housing estate known as The Landings, with streets named after people and aircraft connected with World War II, despite the airfield not being used during that conflict.
Archaeologist Peter Carne, said:
“It is great these offshore wind projects provided the opportunity to uncover the remains of WWI in the area, and we are really pleased that local children have been able to visit and see for themselves.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Community Engagement Manager, Rachel Lawrence, said:
“It’s exciting to be able to unearth fragments of history as we build the future energy infrastructure for UK homes and businesses. We were delighted to be able to share this experience with pupils from Outwood Academy Bydales and bring their history textbooks to life right on their doorstep.”
14th July 2021 in Project news, Supply Chain
UK industrial lifting specialist Granada Material Handling has secured four contracts to provide bespoke cranes for the installation of foundations and offshore convertor platforms on the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
A sub-contractor with Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s tier one contractors, Smulders and Aibel, Granada will provide more than 200 specialist cranes to support the offshore construction work on Dogger Bank A and B.
Granada previously secured a contract with Aibel to support the installation of the offshore platform for Dogger Bank A. These latest contracts with Aibel and Smulders confirm Granada’s involvement in the installation of foundations on Dogger Bank A, as well as supporting foundation and offshore platform installation on Dogger Bank B.
With a lifting capacity of 1.2te and a radius of up to 5,000mm, the cranes have been specially designed by the Rochdale-based business to meet the technical requirements of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will be the largest in the world when completed in 2026.
The contract will support a further 20 UK-based jobs. The number of UK jobs that will be created to support the delivery and operation of Dogger Bank Wind Farm so far is approaching 3,000.
Mark Sidwell, managing director at Granada, said:
“These contracts are clearly very good news for Granada as a company and also for all our staff, as a recognition of their expertise and commitment. More broadly, it is a significant achievement for the UK wind farm sector and supply chain, generally. It allows GMH to bring more business to our own suppliers and subcontractors.
“The UK is at the cutting-edge of green technology with the know-how, the engineering capability and the capacity to make a significant contribution to this vital part of the economy. We at Granada are delighted to be playing our part in growing this sector and we look forward to working with our supply chain partners and continue to deliver on and contribute to the world’s largest offshore wind farm.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said:
“We’re delighted to confirm another UK-based company has been selected to support the construction of the world’s biggest offshore windfarm.
“Granada’s Python Davit crane has been specifically designed to suit the work platform layout of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will install foundations that are among the largest ever used in offshore wind.
“Its unique design will lend itself to safe and efficient maintenance and operation, as well as meeting the demanding technical requirements of a project on this scale.”
Smulders was selected for the supply, fabrication and fit-out of the secondary steel for the transition pieces in late 2020. Smulders will work alongside Sif the company selected to provide fabrication and supply of 190 monopiles and primary steel for the transition pieces.
Aibel has won contracts to provide offshore convertor platforms for all three phases of the wind farm with a revolutionary unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) offshore substation design. Dogger Bank will be the first HVDC-connected wind farm in the UK, paving the way for other large-scale wind projects.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will invest £13.5 million in the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership during its lifetime, a funding programme set up to support growth of the UK offshore wind supply chain.
