Offshore windfarm contract jobs boost

Clean energy produced by the windfarm will be transmitted to shore through a offshore station which will be built by the UK’s leading engineering support services company Babcock.

Hornsea Project One, when operational, will have a capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts and will produce enough clean green electricity to power well over 1m UK homes.

The reactive compensation station is a vital part of transmitting to shore the clean electricity produced by the offshore wind farm, enabling the high voltage system to work with cable lengths longer than those previously used for offshore wind.

The reactive compensation station, which will be built in Rosyth, Fife, will be located between the offshore wind farm and shore. Work will start this summer and is set to be complete in 2018.

Duncan Clark, programme director for Hornsea Project One at DONG Energy, said: “DONG Energy is absolutely committed to investing in the UK and we are delighted to be working with Babcock on this world first structure which will play an important part of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

“As well as generating clean, green energy for well over one million UK homes, Hornsea Project One is also providing a real boost to the UK supply chain. This contract with Babcock is another example of this.”

Ian Donnelly, managing director of Babcock’s energy and marine business, said the contract would sustain around 100 jobs. Hornsea Project One will span a huge area of approximately 407 square kilometres, which is over five times the size of Hull. It is expected to be operational in 2020.