J Murphy & Sons has started the tunnelling works for two offshore wind projects capable of powering 3 million UK homes.
The firm’s energy business is working alongside Sandtoft contractor HB Tunnelling Ltd on the Sofia and Dogger Bank C wind turbines in the North Sea.
Inside the deal: Sofia is wholly owned by German energy company RWE, while Dogger Bank is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Norway petroleum refining company Equinor, and offshore wind company Vårgrønn.
The projects are both on Dogger Bank, more than 195km from the north-east coast of England, with their export cables coming ashore on Teesside, between Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea.
The tunnelling is part of a wider infrastructure installation of a 7km HVDC cable route in Redcar.
It consists of four 12- to 17m-deep tunnels passing under a railway bridge (plus eight shafts).
The 1,200mm pipe jack micro-tunnels, being installed by HB Tunnelling, have drive lengths between 107 and 150m.
Green electricity
This work supports the UK’s drive for greater energy security and target to become Net Zero by 2050, as it connects two offshore wind projects to their new onshore converter stations situated within Wilton International.
The tunnelling works are due to be completed by June.
Enjoyed this? Try Balfour Beatty £160m hospital contract
Get industry news in 5 minutes!
A daily email that makes industry news enjoyable. It’s completely free.
