First foundation installed for world’s largest offshore wind farm

The project to build the world’s largest offshore wind power complex – the 3.6-GW Dogger Bank in the North Sea – has reached a significant milestone with the installation of the first turbine foundation, it was announced on Tuesday.

SSE Renewables, which leads the construction process and holds a 40% stake in the project, said that the first monopile and transition piece have been deployed for Dogger Bank A, the first of three 1.2-GW wind farm sites that are part of the scheme.

A total of 277 monopiles and transition pieces will be installed more than 130 km off the northeast coast of England by Seaway and DEME during the three-year installation programme for the three phases of the project. The 1,057-tonne foundations were designed by UK-based Wood Thilsted and manufactured by the consortium of Sif and Smulders.

Starting next spring, GE Renewable Energy will erect one Haliade-X turbine on each of these foundations.

“During this campaign we’re using foundations that are UK-designed and with components made from UK-manufactured steel, all of which are helping to support UK jobs and a fair and just transition to net zero,” said Paul Cooley, director of offshore wind at SSE Renewables.

In addition to SSE, Dogger Bank’s owners include Equinor ASA with a 40% stake and Eni Plenitude with 20%. The Norwegian energy company will be the lead operator of the wind park upon completion.

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