At the break of this week, exciting new strides have been made in the renewable energy sector. The work of installing the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank, UK, has commenced. The completion of this colossal project by 2026 is expected to curate an impressive 3.6 GW of electrical power. The expectation surpasses the output of the current largest wind farm, which stands at 1.4 GW.
The Arrival of the Mega Turbines
This campaign heralds the unloading of the first of 277 of GE Renewable Energy’s 13MW Haliade-X turbines. As some of the largest and most impactful turbines known to humanity, their setup on site is anticipated to be a turning point for the project. The turbines are being erected 80 miles offshore, their monumental frames towering at 850 feet each.
One of the unique selling points of these titanic turbines is their enormous 350-foot blades. With each revolution, enough energy is produced to power a UK home for two full days. To put it simply, these machines are formidable beasts of power.
A Milestone for Engineering and Infrastructure
SSE’s CEO, Alistair Phillips-Davies, describes this venture as one of the largest and most intricate engineering and infrastructure projects globally. “Dogger Bank is the epitome of action over aspiration, paving the way toward our projected energy prosperity,” he remarked. However, he notes that this is just the beginning, and many more such projects are needed to attain our energy goals.
The project is a combined effort of SSE, Equinor, and Vårgrønn. Post-completion (slated in about 35 years), Equinor will helm the operation of the wind farm. Vårgrønn brings its unique offshore wind expertise to the table, while Jan de Nul handles the installation work.
Groundbreaking Construction in the North Sea
The construction activity happening in the challenging North Sea conditions is considered unique and unparalleled. The project has brought several novel concepts to the fore that are set to drastically hasten the development of future offshore projects. These include the release of new 13MW and 14MW turbine tech, the maiden unmanned offshore High Voltage Direct Current substation platform, and the first deployment of HVDC technology at a UK wind farm.
Jan de Nul’s Voltaire, the largest offshore jack-up installation vessel to date, is spearheading the offshore work. Constructed in China and has made its maiden journey in December 2022, this behemoth boasts almost double the deck space of the company’s previous largest vessel.
Ambitious Targets
Dogger Bank is being hailed as the launching pad for the next phase in the UK’s offshore power development. The UK’s aspirations are teetering on the brink of reality, where the offshore wind capacity is projected to multiply fivefold to 50 GW by 2030. Indeed, the future of energy is blowing in the strong winds of change.
