Siem Offshore Contractors GmbH (SOC) has opened an office in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland to serve as local project office and act as the focal point for the company’s UK market growth strategy.
SOC will use the new office to carry out the contract for the turnkey supply and installation package of the inter-array grid cable system for the 588MW Beatrice offshore wind farm.
“We are pleased to be able to contribute to the growth of Aberdeen’s renewable energy ambitions,” said Andy Martin, SOC’s Project Manager for the Beatrice OWF.
It is planned that the office will consist of up to ten full time employees, made up of local workforce where possible supported by head-office staff and domestic and international subcontractors as required. It is envisaged that future UK contracts will be managed via this office.
Earlier this week, SOC awarded the UK-based JDR Cable Systems with the contract to supply 91 33kV cables which will connect 84 7MW siemens turbines at the site.
SOC chose another UK company – Tekmar Energy – to provide cable protection systems for the wind farm’s inter-array grid.
The company expects the offshore works for the package to begin in 2017, with project completion scheduled in 2018.
Beatrice offshore wind farm is owned and developed by Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Ltd. (BOWL), a partnership formed between SSE, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and SDIC Power.