EQUINOR: Propelling UK Wind Power to New Heights

The world is constantly in need of more and more energy, and an increasingly greater portion of its supply in future will have to be obtained from renewable resources such as hydropower, waves and wind. As around 40% of the EU’s entire wind resources are available in British waters, it is imperative to harness the awesome power of this popular, sustainable and renewable energy source.

Surrounded as it is by sea, the UK has the largest offshore wind energy resource in the world and is estimated to hold more than a third of the total European potential, equivalent to three times the nation’s annual electricity consumption.  Wind power contributed 24.8% of UK electricity supplied in 2020, having surpassed coal and nuclear in 2016 and 2018 respectively, positioning it as far and away the most important source of renewable electricity in the UK.

With now more than 11,000 wind turbines on and offshore fulfilling nigh-on a quarter of the UK’s electricity needs, in May Britain’s wind-power production hit new heights, peaking at 19,835 MW – enough to cater for more than half of its total power demands. Production surpassed a high set in late January and follows record renewables output seen recently in other parts of Europe, boldly highlighting the potential that green energy possesses to replace expensive fossil fuels.

As the UK continues to ramp up wind-farm capacity to cut its reliance on traditional and oft-labelled ‘dirty’ fuels like coal and gas, it is anticipated that the tumbling of records will become an increasingly common occurrence.

NORFOLK WIND PAIR

“Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future,” asserts the international energy outfit. “Our purpose is to turn natural resources into energy for people and progress for society, and as one key part of this we are determined to be a global offshore wind energy major.”

Such a commitment has been evidenced in its deep experience in and dedication to UK wind power, with the company’s first full-scale commercial offshore wind farm, Sheringham Shoal, marking what Equinor describes as its first steppingstone on its long and fruitful renewables journey. Located roughly 20km off the coast of Norfolk in the UK, each of its 88 wind turbines has a capacity of 3.6 MW, and the wind farm as a whole generates in excess of 1TWh of green energy per annum, which equates to enough electricity to power some 280,000 British homes.

Compared to fossil fuels, this represents a reduction of around 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, and as the UK’s population rises and new power-dependent technologies continue to become integral to everyday life, the nation’s demand for energy, and in particular electricity, is ever-increasing.

“It is essential that the UK generates its growing requirement for energy from a set of carefully balanced assets,” Equinor goes on, “and it is the huge demand for electricity that has created a need for the development of offshore wind farms in the windy waters which surround this island nation.”

Standing alongside Sheringham Shoal is its North Norfolk neighbour and celebrated successor, the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm, 32km off the coast of the seaside town of Cromer. With more than 20 fewer turbine generators, but each of 6MW capacity, since its completion in late 2017 this 402MW offshore site has been producing enough green, clean energy to power more than 430,000 UK homes.

The Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm is currently the furthest wind farm from the UK’s shoreline and Equinor is its operator, having developed the £1.4bn power plant between 2012 and 2017. The development and operation of Dudgeon has only been possible through Equinor’s dedicated New Energy Solutions unit, which has been behind the implementation of innovative technologies and devising of new working methodologies throughout.

A first in the offshore wind industry is the use of the ESVAGT Njord service offshore vessel (SOV) to access Dudgeon’s 67 offshore turbines and the offshore substation, which Equinor posits will be watched with interest by UK wind farm developers targeting construction in the months and years to come.

“We’re harnessing the winds of change today,” Equinor condenses, “to power the low-carbon world of tomorrow. Our ambition is to be among the top global players in offshore wind, drawing on our extensive offshore experience and capabilities to drive the industry forward. Wind power is a key enabler in the world’s energy transition.”

EXTENSION AGREEMENTS INKED

“As a company, Equinor’s skill-set has been shaped by years of operating in the hostile offshore conditions that come hand-in-hand with the hydrocarbon industry,” the company asserts. “Our experience of operating in the demanding conditions in the North Sea has given us insight and knowledge and now opportunities to harness that skill set and transfer it to the offshore renewables industry. It really is ‘technology in transition’.”

In September last year Equinor announced a pioneering combination of operations for both wind farms into one streamlined hub. The new structure means that both sites are operated from one state-of-the-art base designed to capture synergies from a combined control room, office and warehouse which will also be leveraged offshore, as teams from both sites will share the existing SOV and thus maximise time in the field and reduce overall emissions.

Trine Ingebjørg Ulla, Head of Operations for Equinor’s UK wind farms, said: “Both wind farms are performing extremely well within the current set up, but as we position ourselves for future growth we have a responsibility to both the UK consumer and to our shareholders to regularly assess our operations, and make sure we continue to operate our assets efficiently.”

As part of these accelerated renewables growth ambitions, Equinor is also moving quickly with proposals to extend both wind farms with a duo of projects that would double its offshore wind capacity in Norfolk to around 1.4 GW in total, providing renewable energy to power an additional 785,000 UK homes, marking a massive contribution to the UK’s decarbonisation goals.

Seeking to minimise potential impacts on the community and the environment, in an industry first for two separately owned projects Equinor is proposing a shared onshore grid connection footprint for the two projects and applying for one common Development Consent Order (DCO). “It is hoped this joined-up approach will pave the way for other coordinated projects in the UK,” Equinor explains, with this DCO indicatively planned for early summer this year, following extensive community consultation.

“As a key contributor to the UK’s efforts to meet its net zero carbon target, Equinor is leading the way in decarbonisation,” concludes the UK’s largest energy supplier. “We believe floating offshore wind is the next wave in renewable energy and are excited about the possibilities that this new technology unfolds.”