Sheringham Shoal OWF Celebrates Its First Anniversary (UK)

Friday 27th September 2013 marks the first anniversary of the official opening ceremony of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm, owned by Statoil and Statkraft. To date, total electricity generation from the wind farm is 1.2 TWh.

One year ago Norfolk’s majestic Holkham Hall was the setting for the official opening of this 317 MW renewable energy power plant. The Crown Prince of Norway, UK and Norwegian minsters and around 100 other guests attended.

Since its opening, the focus from the local operations and maintenance team at Sheringham Shoal has been on maximising availability of the plant to enable highest possible production levels. This was evidenced on 17th September 2013, when the plant produced 7345.8 MWh from all 88 turbines.

Maximise production and reduce costs

Jason Halsey, Power Plant Manager, said: “It is gratifying to see all the hard work of our highly committed and skilled local team producing such good results. This is an emerging industry where we constantly aim to increase efficiencies to maximise production and reduce costs. With total electricity generation to date at 1.2 TWh, and an average plant availability above 93% in the past year, we are clearly demonstrating the significant advantages of harnessing the energy of the wind that freely blows around our coast.”

Since the official opening, the Sheringham Shoal operations team has moved into their purpose built permanent offices and stores, Wind Farm Place, just three miles south of Wells-next-the-Sea. Wind Farm Place is home to around 60 permanent employees, and from here the operation and maintenance activities of the plant are carefully planned and coordinated.

Sheringham Shoal is owned equally by Statkraft and Statoil through joint-venture company Scira Offshore Energy Limited. Statkraft will assume full operatorship of the plant in January 2014.

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Press release, September 27, 2013; Image: Statkraft