Lifting services group Certex UK has won a framework for inspection and maintenance work at the 114-turbine, 1075MW Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Angus in the North Sea firth.
Seagreen, a £3bn joint venture between TotalEnergies (51%) and SSE Renewables (49%), will be Scotland’s largest and the world’s deepest fixed bottom offshore wind farm.
It will provide enough green energy to power more than 1.6 million homes, with first power announced recently.
The new framework covers the Balance of Plant (BoP) equipment – detailed infrastructure design and supply of all parts of the wind farm (except turbines), including towers, foundations, buildings, electrical systems between turbines, and the onshore demarcation point between the wind farm and the grid.
Certex UK’s work will primarily relate to the transition jackets in addition to personal protective equipment (PPE), including fall arrest systems; davit cranes; anchor points; and ladders.
Located approximately 17 miles offshore, the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm consists of V164-10 MW turbines on each of the 114 bases.
Certex UK, which will also deliver services to an operations and maintenance site in Montrose, will commit a two-person team, working in rotation via a service operation vessel (SOV) covering offshore scopes all year round.
The company will use resources from its own Montrose facility.
The framework, won via tender, is for three years, plus a two-year extension.
Certex UK divisional manager for renewables Terry Hoenes said: “We provide a rounded service offering of statutory inspection and maintenance works employing well-trained and competent engineers.
“Unlike many renewables statutory inspection companies, Certex is fundamentally a lifting engineering business and has access to a significant product stock with global supply chain agreements and employed technical experts.”
He added: “We have established an excellent working relationship with SSE in recent years; our Great Yarmouth facility is ideally placed to service the Greater Gabbard wind farm operating out of the Port of Lowestoft and our Montrose facility is situated within a five minute walk of the Seagreen base-keeping the work local to the area.
“Weather can cause issues in this region so downtime can be high leading to tight campaign targets. Most wind farm work tends to be seasonal, but the advantage of this contract is the all-year-round support required.”