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Hornsea One logs on: World's largest wind farm gets 4G connection

Construction and operations teams 120km out in the North Sea can now enjoy superfast broadband

An example of a Tampnet 4G connection on an offshore wind farm, as now deployed on Orsted's Hornsea One.(Image: Grimsby Telegraph)

A superfast internet connection has been secured for the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.

Hornsea One, Orsted’s record-breaking build, will benefit from a strong 4G long term evolution signal, allowing the teams to work and communicate with the Grimsby operations and maintenance base, home and the wider world.

Stations have been installed on the reactive compensation station - a halfway house between farm and landfall - as well as the three separate substations in the field, ensuring coverage across the staggering 407 sq km of North Sea it takes in.

Hornsea One - the world's largest wind farm in waiting - has reached the halfway point in commissioning, with 87 of the 174 turbines now generating. It is operated and maintained out of Grimsby.(Image: Orsted)

Norwegian communications specialist Tampnet, formed out of oil and gas IT experience, has been awarded the contract, and the roll-out also includes dedicated service operations vessel, Edda Mistral.

Stefan Hoonings, Hornsea One’s construction manager, said: “Hornsea One keeps pushing the boundaries. It’s the furthest a wind farm has ever been built from shore so we’ve had to introduce new ways of doing things, and the superfast Tampnet internet connection offshore, during the construction phase, is a great example of that.

“Initially we were able to piggy-back on an existing Tampnet network on oil and gas platform over 50 kilometres north of our project site.  We’ve created a fully functioning office offshore, enabling us to base the site coordination and planning teams on site, and thanks to the high speed connection we can fully digitalise our operations.

Edda Mistral service operation vessel, moored at Orsted's East Coast Hub, Royal Dock, Grimsby.(Image: Orsted )

 

“As well as improving operational efficiencies it’s helped people stay in touch with their families at home and that’s a benefit we value.  We’re always looking for ways to make the Hornsea One site a great place to work, and I think we’ve succeeded here.”

The teams constructing and operating the wind farm live offshore for up to two weeks at a time, 120km out to sea. The first operating shift has just completed, with changeover from the inaugural sailing yesterday.