JDR Cable Systems, Severfield and Smulders, all based in the North of England, will produce integral components and services for Orsted’s Hornsea 3 wind farm on UK soil.
Severfield, headquartered in York, is the largest steel fabricator in the UK but this is its first contract on an offshore renewables energy project.
Severfield will work with strategic key contractor Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes and will undertake final assembly of key components at the Teesworks Port in Teesside.
Smulders is a leading steel fabricator in the offshore wind industry, and since 2016, has operated the UK based facility in Wallsend (Newcastle).
Severfield and Smulders will supply a large proportion of secondary structures for Hornsea 3’s foundations from the UK.
This includes the Suspended Internal Platforms or SIPs, key internal parts of the foundations on which the wind turbines sit.
In addition, they’ll build the boat landings where smaller vessels will arrive, allowing technicians to directly access the turbine foundation. They’ll also provide anode cages, which protect the steel-made foundation structure from corrosion.
North East England-based JDR won the Array Cable Testing and Termination contract.
JDR will prepare and connect the cables between the turbines and offshore convertor stations and then using a testing system will ensure that all array cabling is fully integrated into the offshore electrical infrastructure and working safely.
The work on Hornsea 3 will help support more than 300 jobs across the three partners.
Luke Bridgman, Managing Director, Hornsea 3 said: “We value our partnerships with local suppliers and our continued commitment to working with the UK supply chain is reinforced today with these contract announcements.
“Operating with existing suppliers like JDR and Smulders and supporting Severfields’ diversification into offshore renewables is testament to the strength of the UK supply chain and the role Hornsea 3 is playing to boost economic growth across the UK.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “This investment is a vote of confidence in British manufacturing and our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, boosting our factories and supporting jobs in the North of England to power up the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.
“This multi-million pound investment will build on the manufacturing expertise of our industrial heartlands, ensuring these communities can benefit from the vast opportunities that come with us becoming a clean energy superpower.”
Raf Iemants, MD of Smulders, said: “The UK has always been our largest market for offshore wind activities.
“In 2016 we took the opportunity to establish ourselves on the yard in Newcastle, and provide UK content in our projects.
“The cooperation with Ørsted on the Hornsea3 project is an excellent continuation of our activities in Newcastle, supporting the local community and supply chain around us.”