The Dounreay Trì project is a commercial demonstration project, to be installed off the North coast of Scotland within a site approximately 9 km off Dounreay, Caithness. Hexicon has developed a semi-submersible foundation for offshore wind power that is designed to be turbine agnostic, which means it can support any commercial turbine. The Dounreay design hosts two 5 MW wind turbine generators.
The platform turns into free wind around the third column of the triangular platform using a turret bearing and an electrical swivel. The turret is a solution being widely used in the oil and gas industry, where it has been proven for decades on e.g. FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) vessels.
A single dynamic export cable brings the power ashore. Subject to a Connection Offer from Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution, the associated onshore electrical infrastructure to connect the newly constructed substation at, or near, the existing Dounreay 33 kV substation. The substation will include switchgear, protection, and some local control.
Project Delivery Team
To successfully execute the Project, Dounreay has appointed several well-respected parties within the renewables industry, such as Atkins, RES Offshore, ABS and Hexicon.
The construction started in March 2017. The project is currently on hold, but there is strong commitment of the project’s key suppliers to re-start the project and commissioning is planned latest Q1 2020.
