DUDGEON

Offshore Wind Farm

Operated by Equinor

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many people work at the wind farm?
Around 70 people (offshore and onshore).
How can I find out if there are any job opportunities at the wind farm?
Any job opportunities will be posted on equinor.com. Keep an active look on this site. You can choose to set up automatic alerts when jobs are posted if you wish.
Does the wind farm take on apprentices or interns?
Summer 2018 will see two interns joining the Dudgeon and Hywind Scotland teams for 2 months. Competition for these two internships was very high and the team is looking forward to welcoming the two students into the organisation!
Why choose Great Yarmouth for the operations base?
Great Yarmouth is a strategic location for several reasons, but primarily it is logistics driven: with our SOV vessel an integral part of our operations, a harbour with regular access for crew change and proximity to our supply base warehouse was essential.
Is maintenance of the turbines carried out on a regular basis, or as problems occur?
There are certain planned maintenance activities, to ensure the integrity of the asset is sustained. These planned activities are usually scheduled for the better weather: summer months. However, as with any large-scale offshore operation there are of course activities that are unplanned and this maintenance must be carried out on an “as and when” basis.
What is the make-up of a maintenance team?
Unplanned maintenance teams usually consist of two technicians with support provided from senior technicians on the vessel and onshore engineers. Planned maintenance teams vary according to the maintenance required (for example specialists for lift recertification), and are usually larger.
Is maintenance an in-house operation or is it contracted out?
Maintenance of the wind turbines is carried out under contract by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. However, engineering, planning, analysis, management and control of the assets is performed by in-house staff in Great Yarmouth. Other activities such as statutory inspections on the cranes for example is carried out by a local contractor Certex.
How do the maintenance teams access the turbines?
By the “walk to work” bridge that the SOV deploys and via smaller crew-transfer vessels (CTVs). This is a concept that is first for the offshore wind sector and is improving operational efficiency by increasing the times that turbines can be accessed as the SOV can operate in rougher sea states
Can the turbines be accessed 24/7?
The limitation on accessing the turbines are twofold: the sea conditions (primarily wave height) and manning. Currently the wind farm is not manned to operate 24/7 but that is an operational decision that can be re-evaluated during exceptional circumstances or in future operation reviews.
In what circumstances would the turbines be shut down?
We aim to keep the turbines running as much as possible. However as with any machine, it needs to be shut down for routine service maintenance a few times each year. On occasion a severe fault or wind speeds exceeding 56 miles per hour will shut the turbine down to ensure safety and prevent damage.
How much electricity will the wind farm produce in a year?
Based on our advanced wind forecasting, we expect to produce around 1.7 TWh, which is enough to power 430,000 UK homes.
Does the National Grid always take all the electricity produced by the wind farm?
The UK electricity market is complex but renewable energy production is normally “preferred” to other forms of generation. A careful balancing act has to be performed by National Grid such that demand from homes, businesses and so on exactly matches supply from power stations. On rare occasions this does mean that National Grid can ask us to curtail our output to help balance the grid.
What happens to the electricity once it’s fed into the grid?
Renewable electricity, which is the flow of electrons, is indistinguishable from any other electricity (electrons) once it is fed into the grid. Some electrons may flow to Scotland or Europe via interconnectors, they will flow to houses or businesses or trains and wherever else electricity is used. A very small proportion will be stored, as virtually all of it will be used near instantaneously.
Is there any danger to North Norfolk’s marine life and bird life now that the wind farm is fully operational?
All potential environmental impacts have been mitigated against in the planning phase of the windfarm. And now during operations, extensive studies will be performed to ensure ongoing good environmental conditions for marine life.
Can fishermen operate within the wind farm?
Yes and coexistence is actively promoted and the operational site has been open for fishing activities since October 2017.
How much does the wind farm get paid for the electricity it produces?
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited was awarded a Contract for Difference strike price as part of the Government’s Electricity Market Reform programme. This information is publicly available and the strike price is in the region of £150/MWh. Consequently government subsidies are usually paid to “top-up” the wholesale electricity price to the strike price. However, if the wholesale price exceeds the strike price then the wind farm owes the government the difference.
Does Dudgeon Offshore Wind receive any funding from the UK government?
No support is provided except the subsidies provided under the Contract for Difference (CfD) regime. The wind farm has to pay to lease the seabed from the Crown Estate.
What sort of organisations have access the Dudgeon Community Fund, and how do they apply?
Any not for profit organisation that supports and promotes STEM learning across the three target districts (Great Yarmouth, North Norfolk, Breckland) of Norfolk. Applications can be found via the Dudgeon website.
Will Brexit have any effect on the wind farm?
Brexit and its outcomes for the UK remain uncertain. Equinor remains committed to its wind activities, oil and gas exploration and development projects across the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).