Onshore construction has begun at Burbo Bank Extension, DONG Energy's 258 megawatt (MW) offshore wind farm located 8 kilometres off the UK coast in Liverpool Bay.
At a suppliers event with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI Denmark) at EWEA Offshore 2015 in Denmark, Senior Programme Director for Burbo Bank Extension Klaus Skoust Moller will confirm that construction is now underway and there remains opportunities for UK partners in the supply chain.
Burbo Bank Extension has already proved to be a pioneering project in terms of the number of UK partners on board. The offshore wind farm will feature 32 MHI Vestas Offshore Wind 8 MW turbines, transition pieces for foundations will be manufactured at the Offshore Structures (Britain) Ltd Teesside plant and a £12 million contract for developing an onshore substation was recently signed with Balfour Beatty.
At the UKTI event, which will also be attended by Vivien Life, the British Ambassador to Denmark, Klaus Skoust Moller will outline how DONG Energy now wants to see work passed down the UK supply chain.
Klaus Skoust Møller said:
"DONG Energy is absolutely committed to investing in the UK and with construction now underway on Burbo Bank Extension, we want to see opportunities continue in the UK supply chain.
"Burbo Bank Extension is a unique project in terms of the number of UK-based firms we have appointed, and we now hope to see our large suppliers continue this trend by focussing on UK content throughout their involvement with this project."
British Ambassador to Denmark, Vivien Life said:
"Burbo Bank Extension represents the commitment and ambition of the UK Government to deliver on energy security, decarbonisation and securing local jobs. The entire area around the Liverpool Bay will benefit immensely from this huge infrastructure investment, and I am delighted to see a major Danish company at the forefront of this project.
"UKTI Denmark is committed to assisting both local and Danish companies in making this major infrastructure project a success. Events as the one held today is a step on the way forging even stronger partnerships between the UK and Denmark."
DONG Energy gave Burbo Bank Extension the go ahead in December 2014 when a Final Investment Decision to proceed was taken. This followed the award of development consent by the Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change in September 2014.
When completed, Burbo Bank Extension will be capable of supplying the electricity needs of around 180,000 UK homes.
The DONG Energy and UKTI Denmark event, 'Supply to Burbo Extension', will take place at 11.00 CET on 10th March 2015 in Room 16 at EWEA Offshore 2015.