Saipem 7000 Goes Deep with Seagreen Hardware

Heavy lift vessel Saipem 7000 has installed the jacket foundation for the offshore substation at Seagreen, the world’s deepest fixed bottom and soon to be Scotland’s largest operating offshore wind farm.

The substation topside is due to be installed in early 2022.

Engineered, constructed, and installed by Petrofac and weighing in at 5,100 tonnes, the six-legged jacket is now fixed to the seabed, at a water depth of around 55 metres.

The jacket has a seabed footprint of 43m x 43m and has built-in tubing designed to guide the incoming 15 inter-array cables bringing the electricity generated by the turbines to the substation. In addition, the jacket also has tubing to guide the outgoing three export cables from the offshore substation to the seabed.

”The installation of the Seagreen jacket was completed safely amidst Storm Arwen and Storm Barra, using several measures to minimise environmental impacts, such as low hammer energy and acoustic deterrent devices. We will continue to work closely with our partners to prepare for the safe and successful installation of the 4,800 tonne topside in early 2022,” Vipul Sawe, Petrofac Project Director said.

When completed in late 2022/early 2023, Seagreen will consist of 114 Vestas V164-10.0 MW turbines, the first of which was installed last week.

”Hot on the heels of the installation of the first wind turbines comes another significant construction achievement with the offshore platform jacket being placed and secured safely on the seabed. Everyone involved can be justifiably proud of achievements like these which set the foundations for the project’s delivery over the next 12 or so months,” John Hill, Seagreen Project Director, said.

”The installation of the offshore platform will be undertaken alongside the ongoing Seagreen turbine installation programme and the foundation installation campaign. First power is expected by early next year with the offshore wind farm expected to enter commercial operation in 2023.”

Situated around 27 kilometres off the Angus coast, the GBP 3 billion wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (49 per cent) and TotalEnergies (51 per cent).

At 1.1 GW, Seagreen is Scotland’s largest renewable energy project and one of the biggest private investments in Scottish infrastructure. The wind farm will be capable of generating around 5,000 GWh of renewable energy annually.

SSE Renewables is leading the development and construction of the Seagreen project and will operate Seagreen on completion for its expected 25-year lifetime