Opportunities for local businesses to get involved in the delivery of the Burbo Bank Extension offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay were explained at a special supply chain event held in the Wirral yesterday.
DONG Energy and its partners presented at the event in New Brighton from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 2 June, which was jointly hosted with the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, UKTI and Wirral Council; and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Onshore construction has already begun for Burbo Bank Extension, DONG Energy’s 258 megawatt offshore wind farm located 8 kilometres off the UK coast in Liverpool Bay. When completed, the wind farm will be capable of supplying the electricity needs of around 180,000 UK homes.
Programme Director for Burbo Bank Extension, Klaus Skoust Møller , said: “We have already appointed a number of UK-based firms and we now hope to see our large suppliers continue this trend by focussing on UK content throughout their involvement with this project.
“This event was a great opportunity for businesses and stakeholders across the region to understand the opportunities they have to get involved in Burbo Bank Extension.”
Phil Davies, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Leader of Wirral Council , said: “Wirral and the wider Liverpool City Region is the perfect location for any business either in, or looking to enter, the offshore wind and wider renewables market. Our location and infrastructure offer unmatched development opportunities for this industry.
“The Burbo Bank Extension provides unprecedented opportunities for business of all sizes looking to enter the offshore wind supply chain. The sheer number and range of delegates attending the event today, which has been a huge success, demonstrates that businesses recognise the opportunities here and I am delighted and hugely excited at the positive impact this development will bring to Wirral’s economy, for the long term.”
While the wind farm will feature 32 MHI Vestas Offshore Wind 8MW 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.
Image: Dong Energy