Our Energy Business Unit, along with HB Tunnelling Ltd., has recently commenced the tunnelling works on the Sofia & Dogger Bank C offshore wind farm projects. This is part of the wider infrastructure installation of a 7km HVDC cable route in Redcar, Teesside. The tunnelling work consists of four 12- to 17-metre-deep tunnels passing under a railway bridge (plus eight shafts). The 1200mm pipe jack micro-tunnels have drive lengths between 107 and 150m, and are being installed by our specialist supply chain partner HB Tunnelling. The tunnelling works are due to be completed by June 2023. This significant 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 (Sofia and Dogger Bank C) to their new onshore converter stations situated within Wilton International. The power generated from these wind farms will be able to supply green electricity to the equivalent of around 3 million UK homes. Working in cooperation, Sofia Offshore Wind Farm and Dogger Bank C, the third phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which share onshore cable corridors, have joined forces to have their cable ducts installed at the same time by J. Murphy & Sons to minimise local disruption. The projects are both located on Dogger Bank, more than 195 kilometres from the north-east coast of England, with their export cables coming ashore on Teesside, between Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea. Sofia is 100% owned by RWE, and Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn.
