WindEnergyUpdate talks to Frank-Are Steinbakk, General Manager of the Forewind consortium about the challenges embedded in the development of the 9GW offshore Dogger Bank wind project.

By Rikki Stancich in Paris

On January 08, Forewind Ltd., a consortium including Scottish and Southern Energy plc, RWE npower Renewables (the UK subsidiary of the European renewable energy company, RWE Innogy), offshore oil and gas operator Statoil, and Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, was awarded the license to develop the Dogger Bank zone, the largest zone in the Crown Estate’s third license round for UK offshore wind farms (Round 3).

At 8660 square kilometres, the Dogger Bank zone is not only the largest of the proposed offshore sites; it is also the farthest from shore (between 125 and 195 kilometres), presenting a number of significant technical challenges.

WindEnergyUpdate speaks to Forewind’s general manager, Frank-Are Steinbakk to learn about the consortium’s proposed installation, assembly and operations & maintenance strategy in the face of such challenges.

WindEnergyUpdate: What major challenges does the Forewind consortium face in developing a wind farm on this scale at a water depth of 63 metres?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: The access and scale of the project are probably the biggest challenges and for this we will be relying on the expertise of our partners, as well as that of our suppliers.

Fortunately the majority of the wind farm will be installed in depths shallower than 40 meters. The shallower the better, as this means we are more free to choose between foundations.

We’ll most likely consider opt for monopiles in the shallower waters, whereas in deeper waters we may be restricted to using jackets and/or bigger gravity base foundations.

The sheer scale of the project and the fact that it is so far out from shore is a challenge in itself.

We’ll also be faced with a supply chain challenge; we will require quite a number of turbines and foundations.

Then of course, there is the grid connection, which is another key challenge.

WindEnergyUpdate: Can you provide an overview of the technologies the consortium will opt for (in terms of turbine components and foundations)?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: We are still very early on in the decision-making process and we are still assessing our options, given the size and scope at Dogger Bank.

At present there are standard turbine sizes, e.g. 3,6 MW, which could be an option, but we are looking into the possibility of using larger turbines.

While experience is vital, given the size and scope of Dogger Bank, we’ll be seeking out all innovative technology.

TCE supply chain events are these days starting up all around the UK, to which suppliers are invited to tell what they can offer and how we best can cooperate.

Members of the Forewind team will work closely with UK industry and others to develop the supply chain required to make this scale of development a reality.

WindEnergyUpdate: Last week (January 25th) Forewind officially began its extensive data gathering process on Dogger Bank, which has been described as a ‘comprehensive and long-term process’. What kind of project timeline, from consents to Phase I coming on-line, are we looking at?

Frank-Are Steinbakk:  Forewind will begin the consenting process immediately however this is a long-term process with the first application for consent expected in late 2012, first granting of consent possibly late 2013 and first investment decision late 2014. 

WindEnergyUpdate:What kind of assembly and installation strategy is being considered and what specialist equipment will be required?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: The consenting and construction are planned to take place in a number of tranches with size and number of projects within each tranche being dependent upon a number of factors (such as grid connection opportunities).  

In parallel to the consenting work, Forewind will be developing its procurement, construction and O&M strategies drawing upon the experience of the parent companies and the industry at large. 

Our operations and maintenance strategy, will be based on relevant strategies used by the offshore oil and gas sector. HSE issues will largely be in focus.

WindEnergyUpdate: Is PD Ports equipped to handle a project of this scale, or will it need to develop special port facilities to cater to the project?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: We will be talking to a number of port facilities along the east coast, to establish the facilities available today and those that could be developed over time to support the manufacturing, construction and O&M phases. 

We are keeping very open with regard to the port services we opt for. There may well be others besides PD Ports.

WindEnergyUpdate: What kind of O&M Strategy is being considered (remote vs. on-site teams housed in offshore dwellings)?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: There are a variety of options currently being considered, but given the project’s distance from shore it is inevitable that the eventual solution will rely upon teams being based for a period of time on site.

So offshore dwellings will be considered within the project development.

Whether the teams will be stationed temporarily or permanently has yet to be determined.

WindEnergyUpdate: How central is the Dogger Bank wind energy project (in terms of infrastructure) to the proposed development of the North Sea super grid?

Frank-Are Steinbakk: In all maps proposing routes for the super grid, Dogger Bank, with its key central position, is pivotal to the plans, lying as it does on the route between the UK and the hydro resource of Norway.  

The connections from Dogger Bank to the UK provide for a significant proportion of the distance to be covered between the UK and Norway.

Maximum benefit from an interconnector with Norway would be achieved from a route passing by a large cluster of wind farms on Dogger Bank.