A trio of contracts worth between £75m and £100m has been handed to offshore suppliers operating in the North East and Yorkshire, for a major North Sea wind farm project.
Danish renewables firm Ørsted has awarded Tyneside-based Smulders, along with York-based Severfield, the contract to supply a large proportion of secondary structures for the Hornsea 3 wind farm. Their work will included suspended internal platforms (SIPs), key internal parts of the foundations for the site's 231 turbines, and construction of boat landings for smaller maintenance vessels carrying technicians to access the turbines.
The companies will also provide anode cages, which protect the steel-made foundation structure from corrosion. It is said to be Severfield's first offshore renewables project, and it will work with key contract Hutchinson Engineering in Widnes with final assembly taking place at the Teesworks site in Redcar.
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Meanwhile, JDR Cables, which has locations in Hartlepool, Newcastle and is constructing a major Northumberland factory, has won the array cable testing and termination work on the project. JDR will prepare and connect the cables between the turbines and offshore convertor stations and use its testing system to make sure the cabling is integrated into the offshore electrical infrastructure and is working safely. It follows news that JDR has secured a £30m export finance deal.
Ørsted says that together the contracts will support more than 300 jobs across the three firms.
Luke Bridgman, managing director, Hornsea 3, said: “We value our partnerships with local suppliers and our continued commitment to working with the 海角视频 supply chain is reinforced today with these contract announcements. Operating with existing suppliers like JDR and Smulders and supporting Severfields’ diversification into offshore renewables is testament to the strength of the 海角视频 supply chain and the role Hornsea 3 is playing to boost economic growth across the 海角视频.”
Benj Sykes, head of Ørsted in the 海角视频, said: “Ørsted has been an investor in Britain, supplying clean energy, for 20 years and we believe in supporting the communities in which we work. Hornsea 3 is the world’s single largest offshore wind farm and, as well as being based in 海角视频 waters, we’re proud to be supporting Britain’s growing offshore wind supply chain.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “This investment is a vote of confidence in British manufacturing and our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, boosting our factories and supporting jobs in the North of England to power up the world’s biggest offshore wind farm. This multimillion pound investment will build on the manufacturing expertise of our industrial heartlands, ensuring these communities can benefit from the vast opportunities that come with us becoming a clean energy superpower.”
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Monika Cupiał-Zgrysek CEO of JDR, said: “Being part of the Hornsea 3 project is a continuation of our collaboration with Ørsted, building on the successful delivery of cutting-edge cable solutions for Hornsea 1 and 2. These historic projects demonstrated our ability to innovate and execute at scale, from manufacturing 245 kilometres of inter-array cables for Hornsea 1 to providing advanced 66kV systems for Hornsea 2.
"The Hornsea 3 project not only underscores our role in the 海角视频’s clean energy transition but also reinforces our dedication to creating local jobs and supporting sustainable growth in the communities where we operate. With Hornsea 3, we are proud to extend this legacy, supporting the 海角视频’s renewable energy ambitions while driving local economic growth. Together with Ørsted, Severfield, and Smulders we’re setting new benchmarks in offshore wind and reaffirming our commitment to a sustainable energy future.”
Raf Iemants, managing director of Smulders, said: “The 海角视频 has always been our largest market for offshore wind activities. In 2016 we took the opportunity to establish ourselves on the yard in Newcastle, and provide 海角视频 content in our projects. The cooperation with Ørsted on the Hornsea3 project is an excellent continuation of our activities in Newcastle, supporting the local community and supply chain around us. ”
Jim Martindale, divisional managing director for Severfield Nuclear & Infrastructure, said: "Hornsea 3 represents a significant milestone for Severfield, marking our first offshore wind contract. This is a major achievement for the business and a key step in aligning with our strategy to expand the Infrastructure division into new and innovative sectors. This achievement is also a testament to the dedication and skills of our colleagues, who have expertise in delivering complex projects across a range of industries. I’m excited about the opportunities this partnership brings for the future and we're looking forward to working with Ørsted."