Glasgow-based renewable energy consultancy Sgurr Energy has won a three-year construction monitoring contract for the 588-MW Beatrice offshore wind farm – the first commercial offshore wind farm from the Scottish Crown Estate leasing round to reach this stage of development.
The new contract follows a successful one-year role as lenders’ technical advisor for Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm Limited and participating lenders, in which Sgurr Energy – the renewable energy subsidiary of Aberdeen-based Wood Group – supported the project to financial close last month.
Sgurr Energy will also be providing operational support for the first five years of project operation. The scope will include regular monitoring of construction and installation, checking progress and confirming consistency with the final design, reviewing permits and environmental requirements and undertaking site visits including factory and construction site visits.
The SSE-led Beatrice offshore turbine-parc will consist of 84 Siemens SWT-7.0-154 wind turbines, which will be the largest turbine commercially deployed offshore. Additionally, the project will utilise a new and innovative offshore transformer module solution in place of a standard offshore substation leading to significant cost savings.
Fiona Shaw, senior renewable energy consultant at Sgurr Energy, said: “Involvement in what will be the first commercially operating offshore wind farm in Scottish waters has been an extremely rewarding experience.”
Located in the Outer Moray Firth, approximately 10 miles from the Caithness coastline, Beatrice is expected to be commissioned in 2019
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