Aberdeen-based Sparrows Group has won a contract to supply more than 100 cranes for installation at the East Anglia-1 offshore wind farm in a major diversification from its traditional ‘home’ market in N. Sea oil and gas.
The 714 megawatt Scottish Power the wind farm will be capable of producing enough electricity to power around 500,000 homes and is anticipated to generate first power in 2019 and be fully-operational by 2020.
All the offshore wind turbine cranes will be designed and manufactured at Sparrows’ factory in Aberdeen. One crane will be installed on each of the farm’s 102 wind turbines (see image above) with a further crane used for training purposes.
This order is Sparrows’ biggest ever renewable energy contract to date
The cranes which are part of the firm’s offshore wind specific WindMaster range are designed for use on offshore wind turbine platforms with 99% of their parts procured within the UK. Production is expected to start early 2017 with final delivery scheduled mid-2018.
Stewart Mitchell, Chief Executive, Sparrows, said: “This contract award is recognition of the expertise that exists in the UK and we are working hard to ensure we play our part in cementing Aberdeen and the North East as a global skills hub and providing job security for our employees.
“We have utilised our extensive knowledge of operations and maintenance to design a range of highly reliable and low maintenance offshore wind turbine cranes that are ideal for the renewables sector.”
“Diversification into multiple sectors and industries is part of our long-term strategy in achieving our business growth aspirations nationally and internationally.”
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