Preliminary onshore construction work has kicked off for the 3600MW Dogger Bank offshore wind farm complex off the east coast of England.
Jones Bros Civil Engineering has started work near the coastal village of Ulrome in the East Riding of Yorkshire for the installation of onshore cable infrastructure for the 1.2GW each Creyke Beck A and B projects.
The onshore infrastructure includes the installation of approximately 32km of electrical cables within ducts.
The ducts will be installed in trenches and, where required, via drilling under existing infrastructure and natural obstacles.
Work also involves completing bulk earthworks at the onshore HVDC convertor station locations.
The completed onshore cable will transport power from Creyke Beck A and B from the landfall point at Ulrome to the new convertor stations – one for each project – south of Beverley.
The cable route will be built adjacent to the A1079 road, finally connecting to the existing National Grid substation at Creyke Beck, Cottingham.
The scope also covers vegetation clearance, preparing access junctions and construction of a temporary access road to facilitate the main works, and installation of pre- and post-construction land drainage.
The full works are expected to take approximately two years to complete.
Dogger Bank Wind Farms managing director Steve Wilson said: “Getting the first spade in the ground is a significant milestone on any project, but for what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, this is a major moment for a project that has already been over a decade in the making.
“Dogger Bank Wind Farms will play a critical role in the UK’s effort to achieve net-zero through the use of low-carbon fuel sources and we’re incredibly pleased to work with one of the UK’s leading civil engineering contractors, Jones Bros, as we commence construction and start delivering Dogger Bank.”
Jones Bros contracts director Garod Evans said: “We have worked with SSE Renewables on major schemes previously and we are delighted to be developing our partnership through working with them and now Equinor on the onshore works for Dogger Bank Wind Farms.
“There will be up to 100 Jones Bros personnel, from management to apprentices and trainees, on site at the height of the works.
“This is a really significant project to be involved with and it’s exciting for us to play a part in delivering support to what will be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.”
Equinor vice president for Dogger Bank Halfdan Brustad said: “Commencing this onshore work is an important and exciting milestone for the successful delivery of Dogger Bank.”
Dogger Bank Wind Farms is a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor.
The project also includes the 1.2GW Teesside A development, as well as Creyke Beck A and B.
All three sites were successful in the UK’s September 2019 Contracts for Difference auctions.
Dogger Bank will feature the 12MW GE Haliade-X turbine.