The largest offshore jack-up installation vessel ever built, Jan de Nun’s Voltaire, has arrived in the UK to help construct the 3600MW Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The vessel has docked in the port of Able Seaton ahead of its first assignment since being delivered at the end of 2022.
It will be responsible for the installation of 277 units, making the combination of these three wind farm phases the largest offshore production facility in the world.
Voltaire will sail out in early July to install the very first GE Haliade-X offshore wind turbine.
Named after the pioneering European Enlightenment philosopher, the jack-up has a lifting capacity of 3,200 tonnes.
It is the first seaworthy installation vessel to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel, Jan De Nul said.
The vessel is fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system by means of a Selective Catalytic Reduction system and a Diesel Particulate Filter, making her the first seagoing installation vessel of her kind to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv), moreover Stage V-certified.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built off the East Coast of England in three 1.2GW phases – Dogger Bank A, B and C.
It is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vargronn (20%).
SSE Renewables is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the site for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
Once completed in 2026, it will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
In 2020, Dogger Bank Wind Farm and Jan De Nul Group announced the signing of the final contract for the transport and installation of the GE Haliade-X offshore wind turbines at Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B, 130km off the Yorkshire coast.
A year later, the pair signed the final contract for the transport and installation of 87 GE Haliade-X 14 MW offshore wind turbines for Dogger Bank C followed, 200km off the Yorkshire coast.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm project director Olly Cass said: “As offshore wind technology grows in scale and power, the industry needs stronger vessels that are capable of meeting these engineering challenges.
“With its lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes and ultra-low emissions design, we can’t wait to see this next generation vessel take on the challenge of installing some of the world’s largest and most powerful turbines, as we head towards first power for Dogger Bank A this summer.”
Jan De Nul Offshore Renewables manager Jan Van Impe added: “Dogger Bank Wind Farm is exactly the type of project we had in mind when we took the decision to build Voltaire.
“The scale and characteristics of the turbines offer the perfect challenge for this next generation state-of-the art jack-up installation vessel.
“We are excited to continue our contribution to the energy transition together with industry leaders SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vargronn by installing the offshore wind turbines at Dogger Bank A, B and C in the most efficient and clean manner possible.”