The operations and maintenance base for the Galloper offshore wind farm has officially opened in Harwich, the UK.
Located at the Harwich International Port in Essex, the GBP 10 million facility will be used for O&M of the Galloper project for the next twenty years.
The base includes offices, a 24/7 wind farm control room, a pontoon for project vessels, a gym, canteen, and warehousing all in one location, and a new access road off the A120, innogy said.
Ipswich-based R G Carter Southern designed and constructed the building, while Jackson Civil Engineering Group designed and constructed the access road. Farrans Construction designed, fabricated and installed the pontoon. The construction was completed in December 2019.
“It is fantastic to start to the new year working from the new Operations & Maintenance facility. The technology, facilities and infrastructure will support our sixty- strong team to effectively manage the operation and maintenance of the Galloper Wind Farm which generates enough energy for up to 380,0001 households per annum,” said Guy Middleton , Galloper General Manager.
“Around 120 jobs were created during the construction of the base, with the two major contracts for the design and construction of the base and the access road, going to East of England companies. This is a shining example of how the offshore renewables industry is providing skilled and valuable job opportunities for local people, both in the short and long term.”
The Galloper offshore wind farm comprises 56 Siemens Gamesa 6.3MW turbines spinning some 30km off the coast of Suffolk.
First power was generated in November 2017, while the 353MW project was officially inaugurated in September 2018.