Port of Tyne has signed an option agreement with Dogger Bank Wind Farm. This successfully concludes the preliminary phase of a state-of-the-art development to build the operations and maintenance (O&M) base of the world’s largest offshore windfarm.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a 50:50 joint venture between Equinor and SSE Renewables. The project is being built in three equal phases of 1.2 GW, and Eni will take a 20% stake in the first two phases when transactions are complete in Q1 2021. Equinor will operate the wind farm for its life of up to 35 years and as such will construct the O&M base. Over 200 people will be based there or offshore to ensure the turbines are operating and ready to generate electricity for six million UK homes.
Under the terms of the option agreement contract, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will retain full rights to develop its windfarm O&M facility for a set period, although initial works are expected to commence in early 2021.
Port of Tyne is currently approving construction bids to complete its landlords works, involving the construction of a new access road, improved drainage facilities, enabling works for electricity infrastructure and a quay upgrade. The port will be completing these initial works by July 2021, ready for the full building phase to commence by Q3 of 2021. The construction works, including the new portside facility, will be ready for its offshore service operational vessels (SOVs) when the wind farm operations are scheduled to begin during 2023.
