Aker Solutions, in a
consortium with Siemens Energy, has reached an important milestone by receiving
the full notice to proceed from RWE for the Norfolk Vanguard West and East
offshore wind farms.
The Norfolk
Vanguard West and East represent the first phase of RWE’s Norfolk Offshore Wind
Zone, which also includes the Norfolk Boreas developments. Once complete, the
Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone will produce enough renewable electricity to power more
than four million homes.
Aker Solutions has provided
work for the projects under a limited notice to proceed announced in November
2023. The full notice to proceed represents a significant milestone, and
underscores Aker Solutions’ ambition to contribute to the global energy transition.
“We are proud to be a key
partner in this important energy project, which represents a significant source
of renewable energy and a major step in Europe’s energy transformation,” said
Sturla Magnus, executive vice president for Aker Solutions’ new build segment.
“The project also aligns with
Aker Solutions’ strategy to expand our activities in renewables and energy
transition projects, reinforcing our position as a leader in sustainable energy
solutions.”
The project is
being executed through a consortium consisting of Aker Solutions and
Siemens Energy.
Aker Solutions’ scope includes engineering, procurement,
construction and installation (EPCI) of the high voltage direct current (HVDC)
offshore platform, while Siemens Energy is responsible for the onshore station
as well as the high voltage equipment in the offshore substations.
The joint
venture between Aker Solutions and Drydocks World will deliver the two HVDC
platforms. Fabrication of the platform topsides will be executed by Drydocks
World in Dubai, UAE, while the fabrication of the substructure will be executed
by Aker Solutions’ yard in Verdal, Norway.
Project execution has started,
with engineering and procurement activities ongoing for both platform topsides
and substructures. Fabrication of the Norfolk Vanguard West platform started at
Drydocks World in April of this year, while fabrication of the Norfolk Vanguard
East platform is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2025.
The platforms will be delivered
and installed in 2027 and 2028. Before offshore installation, they will be
towed to Aker Solutions’ Stord yard for final preparations, including transfer
from transportation vessel to heavy lift vessel.
The contract has a balanced
risk-reward profile based on principles for long-term collaboration with
aligned incentives for efficient and safe delivery.
Aker Solutions will at this
stage book the award as a major1 order intake in the first quarter
of 2025, in the renewables and field development segment, representing the
remaining contract value for the two projects.
1 Aker Solutions defines a major contract
as being between NOK 8billion and NOK 12billion