First electricity delivered from Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm
Up to 6,000 homes in UK are now receiving electricity from the first producing wind turbine on Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm. When fully operational later in 2017 the offshore wind farm will provide electricity to over 400,000 homes.
After a successful installation of the first wind turbine in early January, operator Statoil and partners Masdar and Statkraft were able to set the first turbine in production on the 7 February delivering electricity to UK National Grid.
“This is a significant milestone for one of the largest offshore wind farms in Europe. I am particularly satisfied with the on time deliveries and the HSE performance so far,” says Margareth Øvrum, Statoil’s executive vice president for Technology, Projects and Drilling.
67 foundations were installed on the Dudgeon Bank last year, along with the cables and the offshore substation that collects the power generated by the wind turbines.
This work involved as much as 2,000 vessel days and almost the same number is anticipated this year for the installation of turbines.
The Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm site is located 32 km offshore Norfolk, UK and, and is 20 km east of the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm, where Statoil currently holds a 40% share. The Dudgeon Offshore Wind farm consists of 67 six-megawatt wind turbine generators with a total installed capacity of 402 MW producing 1.73 TWh/year - equivalent to the consumption of more than 400,000 UK households.
The GBP 1.5 billion Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project is part of Statoil’s strategy is to gradually complement the oil and gas portfolio with profitable renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions.
“Building a profitable renewable portfolio on the foundation of 40 years of oil and gas experience is a competitive advantage. We can leverage on our marine operations competence, our experience with complex projects and our supply chain. A lot of work remains, but seeing the first Dudgeon turbine producing electricity is very satisfying,” says Stephen Bull, Statoil’s senior vice president for offshore wind.
Stephen Bull, Statoil’s senior vice president for offshore wind. (Photo: Harald Pettersen)
The installation of the remaining 66 wind turbine generators is expected to be completed by Q4/2017, when the wind farm will be fully operational.
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited, which holds the licenses and consents to enable it to construct the Dudgeon offshore wind farm, is owned by two Norwegian companies, Statoil and Statkraft, and Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, Masdar. Statoil holds the responsibility as operator for both the construction and the operational phase.
Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 33 countries. Building on 40 years of experience from oil and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, it is committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative business solutions. It is headquartered in Stavanger, Norway with approximately 23,000 employees worldwide, and is listed on the New York and Oslo stock exchanges.
Statkraft is Europe's largest generator of renewable energy and is the leading power company in Norway. The company owns, produces and develops hydropower, wind power, gas power and district heating. Statkraft is a major player in European power trading and has 3,600 employees in more than 20 countries.
Masdar is Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of clean energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future. Wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company PJSC, the strategic investment company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the Emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy and water.
For further information please contact:
Elin A. Isaksen
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project
T:+47 480 91193
E: media@dudgeonoffshorewind.co.uk
Issue date: 09-02-17