Steel and other metals will do well in the next few years as focus on green energy increases.
Tata Steel supplies steel for construction of Dogger Bank wind farm
A few months ago, Offshore Engineer published a special report on who developed the largest offshore wind farm in the world, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank wind farm in the UK, turbines, cables, installation services, ship owners, SOV , jack-up rigs and other project leaders and suppliers have done the specific work.
Tata Steel is one of the project suppliers. The company says its steel made in the UK played a huge role in building the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
The steel frames constructed by Tata Steel are very safe transition pieces that connect the tower above the sea to the foundation below the water. During the first two phases of construction, GE Renewable’s turbines will be built on top of it. Each turbine is rated at 13 megawatts and can power a home for two days with one rotation.
In November 2020, manufacturing company Sif and Belgian company Smulders signed a contract to jointly provide monopiles for the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank A and B, two phases totaling 2.4GW. A year later, a consortium between Sif and Smulders has signed a contract to produce all 87 monobloc and transition components for Dogger Bank C, which will be the third phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, also last phase.
Steel is produced at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot plant and sent to its Corby and Hartlepool sites, where it is processed into hollow sections by one of the companies responsible for the construction of the first two phases of the wind farm.
Sandip Biswas, chairman of the board of Tata Steel UK, said: "We are proud that this project can help improve employment in the UK and support the development of manufacturing. Tata Steel’s products can withstand the harsh conditions of the North Sea. Hundreds of tons of high-quality steel in the future will play a huge role in the first two stages of the Dogger Bank wind farm, located 130km off the northeast coast of England. For the UK to achieve its net zero target, it will need a lot of steel to build everything from renewable energy and low-carbon transport to hydrogen production and distribution. As a steel company, we also have our own decarbonization goals. In the future, our decarbonization process will depend on low-cost renewable energy that can provide a safe and stable supply. Whether creating hydrogen for future steelmaking or powering new low carbon furnaces. If we can provide more help, these projects can be better developed.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm Director Steve Wilson said: "It’s also proof that we can use UK skills and expertise to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Our connector is one of the largest to be installed on an offshore wind farm, and Tata Steel’s steel will be used to build part of the steel frame.
The Dogger Bank wind farm already supports more than 3,000 jobs in the UK supply chain and offers businesses the opportunity to be part of such a groundbreaking project. These companies will be more competitive in the future when the use of renewable energy is widespread around the world.
The Dogger Bank wind farm is being jointly developed by three companies, SSE, Equinor and ENI, and is divided into three stages, Dogger Bank A, B and C, each with a total of 1.2GW and is targeted for completion in 2026.