Boston Energy helps world’s largest offshore wind farm generate first power

Wind energy technical services provider Boston Energy has helped the world’s largest offshore wind

farm generate its first power, in a key milestone for the UK’s transition to net zero.

Boston Energy is undertaking the onshore commissioning and completion, offshore mechanical and

electrical (M&E) completion and offshore commissioning elements of the Dogger Bank project for

the wind farm’s turbine manufacturer, GE Vernova. 

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s largest wind farm when operational, as it will be

capable of powering up to six million UK homes.

First power was achieved at Dogger Bank in early October, with the first 277 turbines installed. Each

rotation of a turbine can produce enough clean energy to power an average home for two days.

Located between 130km and 190km off the North East coast of England at their nearest points, each

of the three phases, A, B and C, will have an installed generation capacity of 1.2GW based on GE

Vernova’s Haliade-X wind turbine platform.

Boston Energy has been awarded major multi-million pound contracts to support the installation

programme, representing the largest ever single award in the offshore wind sector for technical

manpower services and cementing Boston Energy’s position as the pre-eminent supplier in this field.

At full scope, there will be in excess of 190 highly-skilled individuals on the project, all of whom will

be UK based.

Nathan Fahey, Project Director at GE Vernova, said: “We have been working with Boston Energy

since the contract award for offshore commissioning of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm and I’m really

pleased to have them as a trusted partner as we move into the operational phase of the project.

“I trust the team will deliver the expected results, at the quality and execution standards we want to

provide to our customer.

“We are very much looking forward to working with Boston Energy to help us deliver this fantastic

project utilising our Haliade-X turbines. Delivering this project will significantly enhance the UK’s net

zero ambitions and help make a substantial dent in CO2 emissions.”

Roles provided by Boston Energy for Dogger Bank include commissioning supervisors and

technicians, vessel administrators, mechanical and electrical technicians and rope access

technicians.

Boston Energy is committed to supporting local employment, with more than 50 onshore workers

and 90 offshore workers – plus an office team of seven – being employed in the North East and

Teesside area.

Boston Energy has provided high-quality services to the global wind industry, working onshore and

offshore, since 2012, with experienced teams across the globe working under a one-team approach

to provide on-time, in-depth support to reduce turbine downtime and maximise efficiency on site.

With an already wide range of services including pre-assembly, construction and commissioning,

service and maintenance, major correctives, blade works and technical training, Boston Energy is

continuously expanding its offering to support clients’ requirements, with recent additions including

heavy lift (MCE) and high voltage. 

Having successfully delivered more than 100 projects across the UK, Europe, North America, and

Taiwan in that time, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is the latest project added to Boston Energy’s portfolio.

Julian Cattermole, CEO of Boston Energy, said: “We’re thrilled that GE Vernova have entrusted us to

deliver the onshore and offshore commissioning of this truly exciting, and transformative project.

“GE has recognised that Boston Energy has a very strong track record of delivering exceptional

quality on its projects as well as ensuring it delivers to budget and to the highest safety and

environmental standards.

“We now need to get on and deliver to those same exacting standards that GE Vernova expects.”

With GE Vernova’s support, Boston Energy is expanding the opportunities for local technicians in the

North East to progress in the wind industry and join this remarkable project.

To demonstrate its commitment to local content, Boston Energy has employed 80 per cent of its

offshore team and 85 per cent of its onshore team from the North East, supporting clean energy jobs

in the region.

As well as providing local technicians to the Dogger Bank project, Boston Energy is providing further

opportunities for the local community at its newly-opened, on-site office, having already employed a

local team supporting the Dogger Bank operations, with plans to expand further as the project

develops.

The project comes at an exciting time for Boston Energy, as leading private equity investor LDC has

made a significant investment in the company as it targets further international expansion, helping

to respond to the growing demand for services at pace and increasing investment in technicians.

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor

(40%) and Vårgrønn (20%) with SSE Renewables leading on the development and construction, while

Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion, for its expected operational life of around 35

years.

Simon Bailey, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Commercial Director for SSE, said: “It’s great to see another

key contractor creating job opportunities to support the construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

“Construction and commissioning of turbine technology is a critical element of our programme that

will help us to steadily ramp up to full operating capacity of 3.6GW by 2026.”

The Dogger Bank project is due to be completed in 2026 and Boston Energy is looking forward to

working closely with GE Vernova throughout the next three years and beyond.