SSE Renewables and Equinor have begun installing the foundations for the 3600MW Dogger Bank offshore wind project off the UK’s north-east coast.
The campaign will see installation of 277 turbine foundations beginning with the recent installation of the first monopile and transition piece on Dogger Bank A.
The installation campaign is being led by Seaway 7 supported by DEME Offshore.
DEME is deploying its Innovation vessel for installation of the first foundations on Dogger Bank A.
Following the DEME Innovation, the Seaway Strashnov will deploy on Dogger Bank A to continue the foundation installation.
The turbine foundations for Dogger Bank Wind Farm are UK-designed and feature a unique split-level transition piece, as well as a world’s-largest eight-metre flange – or projecting flat rim – to support the turbine towers.
Installation of GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X turbines onto each of the installed turbine foundations will commence from spring 2023.
Steel manufactured by Tata Steel in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is being used in the supporting components of the transition pieces, while South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada Material Handling have also won contracts with Smulders to support the project.
Steve Wilson, SSE Renewables Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, said: “As well as the sheer scale of the foundations, we’ve incorporated a unique split-level transition piece which allows safe access for technicians directly into the turbine tower from our service and operations vessels, eliminating thousands of manual handling activities and lifting operations over the lifetime of the assets.”
Designed in the UK by Wood Thilsted, the foundations have been optimised to tackle challenging wave loads in the Dogger Bank area of the North Sea, with installation in water depths of up to 32 metres and at a distance of 130 km from shore.
Wouter van Dalen, Project Director, Seaway 7, said: “In good cooperation with our client Dogger Bank Wind Farm and our partners and suppliers, this complex project has been prepared for installation with a number of different heavy lift vessels, starting with DEME’s Innovation.
“Seaway 7 is proud to be part of the team that is constructing the Dogger Bank project and is looking forward to safely installing the remaining 276 foundations.”
In November 2020, the consortium Sif and Smulders was awarded the contract for the manufacture of all 190 monopiles and transition pieces for the Dogger Bank A and B phases of the wind farm, with a contract for Dogger Bank C’s remaining 87 monopiles and transition pieces awarded to the consortium in 2021.
Dogger Bank is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni Plenitude (20%).
SSE Renewables is lead operator for the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, while Equinor will be lead operator of the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.