Our weekly project round-up highlights some of the interesting and innovative work taking place across the sector.
This week there have been developments on the Dogger Bank windfarm project and SSEN has announced upgrade works that are taking place on the islands of Jura and Islay.
Utility Week takes a look at some of the projects happening around the sector.
SSE and Equinor
SSE and Equinor have announced the world’s largest jack-up installation vessel has been secured for the Dogger Bank windfarm.
The Voltaire, which has a lifting capacity of 3,000 tonnes and stands taller than the Eiffel tower, will transport and install the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, GE’s Haliade-X, at Dogger Bank, which sits 130km off the Yorkshire coast.
The announcement marks the first contract placed for Voltaire, which will enter into service in 2022.
The vessel is fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system by means of a selective catalytic reduction system and a diesel particulate filter, which the companies say makes it the very first seagoing installation vessel of its kind to be an ultra-low emission vessel.
When complete, Dogger Bank will generate enough energy to power more than 4.5 million homes every year – around 5 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN)
SSEN has announced that work has commenced this week on essential electricity network upgrades on the islands of Islay and Jura.
The work, worth approximately £1 million, is to refurbish the existing network on Jura which has been delivering power for around 60 years. SSEN expects to complete this by the end of November.
This project forms part of a multi-million pound programme of investment to upgrade the electricity network serving the islands, with works on Jura to refurbish the wooden electricity pole circuit from Lagg towards Islay that is exposed to salt water which can erode the equipment.
UK Power Networks (UKPN)
Two new power transformers weighing 68 tonnes each have been delivered to serve the Garden City at Ebbsfleet in Kent.
The equipment was unloaded at a substation on site and will be connected and tested by UKPN over the coming weeks.
UKPN is delivering the electrical infrastructure project for the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation.
The corporation, which plans to invest £30 million on the electrical infrastructure, was set up by the government to accelerate the delivery of thousands of new homes and create a city connected by the high-speed railway to London and Paris.
UKPN says the investments will provide power to 15,000 new homes and businesses.