Jan De Nul newbuild to install Dogger Bank offshore windfarms

Voltaire will have a lifting capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes and will be used to transport and install the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, GE’s Haliade-X.

The announcement marks the first contract for Voltaire, which will enter into service in 2022.

Apart from its lifting capacity, Voltaire is also an environmentally friendly ship and will be fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system using selective catalytic reduction and a diesel particulate filter, making it the first seagoing installation vessel of its kind to be classed as an ’ultra-low emission vessel.’

Jan De Nul offshore director Philippe Hutse said, "We are delighted to be selected as the transport and installation contractor for the next generation of turbines at Dogger Bank. The size of this giant project fits perfectly with the capacities of our new jack-up vessel. It underlines the fact that we are entering a new phase in the construction of offshore windfarms."

SSE Renewables director of capital projects Paul Cooley said, "Dogger Bank is an industry leading project and we, along with our joint venture partners Equinor, are very excited to welcome another industry leader, Jan De Nul Group, to the development of the largest offshore windfarm in the world.”

Dogger Bank Wind Farms secured 3.6-GW of offshore wind contract in the UK’s recent contract for difference auction.

Record low prices were bid for the three projects making up the Dogger Bank windfarms: Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B and Teesside A.

The projects are now moving towards a final investment decision, which is expected in 2020.

SSE Renewables will lead the development and construction phases of the Dogger Bank windfarms and Equinor will lead on operations.

The projects are in the North Sea, approximately 130 km from the Yorkshire coast in water depths ranging from 20 m to 35 m. Each project will have an installed capacity of 1.2 GW.

The first of the trio of projects is expected to be operational in 2023. The turbines will be installed on monopile foundations.