Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm to Feature UK Steel

Steel manufactured in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is set to play a role in the foundations that will support the world’s largest offshore wind farm – the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank.

Sif and Smulders were awarded contracts to provide the monopiles and transition pieces for the first two phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm in November 2020, with Dogger Bank C awarded a year later.

They have since awarded subcontracts to South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada to work on this project, with an order now placed with Tata Steel to help shape the transition pieces.

Steel made in Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site and processed into hollow sections at the company’s Corby and Hartlepool sites, will help form the supporting components of the transition pieces to be used in the first two phases of the wind farm.

”This is another great example of how we’re taking advantage of UK skills and expertise to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm,” Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, Steve Wilson, said.

”Our transition pieces are among the largest to be installed on an offshore wind farm, and this UK-manufactured steel will form some of the supporting components. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is already creating or supporting more than 3,000 jobs in the UK supply chain, and giving companies the chance to work on a pioneering project which will help them become increasingly competitive as the world adapts to produce energy that doesn’t cost the earth.”

Sif and Smulders will manufacture and deliver 190 monopiles and 190 transition pieces for Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B.

Sif is responsible for the fabrication and supply of the monopiles and primary steel for the transition pieces, and for the marshalling of all foundation components at its Maasvlakte 2 Rotterdam terminal in the Netherlands, while Smulders will manufacture the secondary steel and assemble, coat, and test the fully equipped transition pieces.

”Huge amounts of steel will be needed to help the UK achieve its net-zero goals – to build everything from renewable energy and low-CO2 transportation to hydrogen production and distribution,” Sandip Biswas, Chairman of the Board of Tata Steel UK, said.

”At the same time, we have targets for our own decarbonisation as a steelmaker. Our own transition to a decarbonised future will rely on a secure supply of competitively priced renewable energy – whether that be to create hydrogen for future steelmaking or power new low-CO2 furnaces. The more we can help in delivering these landmark projects the better.”

The Dogger Bank wind farm is located more than 130 kilometres off the Yorkshire coast in the UK. The 3.6 GW project’s three phases will each have a capacity of 1.2 GW, with 2.4 GW Dogger Bank A and B planned to be operational by 2024, and Dogger Bank C to follow later with the operation date scheduled for 2026.

Dogger Bank A and B is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40 per cent), Equinor (40 per cent) and Eni (20 per cent).

Earlier this month, SSE Renewables and Equinor, 50:50 joint venture partners in Dogger Bank C, announced Eni would also take a 20 per cent stake in the final phase, with SSE Renewables and Equinor maintaining 40 per cent stakes each. The transaction is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2022, subject to Dogger Bank C financial close and regulatory approvals.