“This heralds the start of operations and is an important milestone for Scira Offshore Energy, the owner and operator of the wind farm currently being constructed off the North Norfolk coast,” says Scira general manager Einar Strømsvåg.

Additionally, the start up also marks that electricity from the wind farm will be traded in the UK market for the first time.

Scira general manager Einar Strømsvåg (Photo: Colin Dobinson)

First power takes place three years after consent was granted, and two years after the initial construction works began.

The wind farm will produce power for at least 25 years, and will be operated from Scira’s base in Wells-next-the-Sea.

Although operations have begun, construction and installation activities will continue into next year.

There are still some 12 foundations to be installed, several kilometres of infield cables to be laid and buried into the seabed, and 86 wind turbines to be erected and set into operation before the Statoil-managed project is handed over as a completed wind farm to Scira by summer 2012.

“Currently on a busy day there are as many as 30 vessels employing around 500 people offshore,” says Statoil project manager Elly Bjerknes. “The work requires detailed planning and coordination, but progress is also dependent on good weather conditions.

Statoil project manager Elly Bjerknes (Photo: Harald Pettersen)

“High attention is given to health and safety, and through our Marine Coordination Centre in Wells we have designed a robust system based on our offshore experience, which we feel contributes to lifting industry standards.”

When the Sheringham Shoal wind farm is completed and fully operational, around 50 full-time personnel will be employed at Scira’s new operational base, which will be constructed at Egmere located approximately five kilometres outside Wells.

“Siemens has already recruited the 24 offshore maintenance technicians who will work on the wind farm, and all of them are from Norfolk,” says Strømsvåg.  “In addition the company will indirectly employ more than 25 local people in logistics and support functions associated with the operations. This will have a significant positive local impact.”

Statoil renewable energy head Ståle Tungesvik (Photo: Øyvind Hagen)

Sheringham Shoal is owned equally by Statoil and Statkraft through the joint venture company Scira Offshore Energy Limited.

Statoil is the manager for Scira during the project development and construction phase, while Scira will be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the wind farm.

“Offshore wind energy is one of Statoil's growth areas, and we consider the UK one of the most promising markets. Our aim is to utilise our key competence from our offshore oil and gas activities to add value. First power to grid from Sheringham Shoal is a key milestone for Statoil as an offshore wind developer,” says Statoil renewable energy head Ståle Tungesvik.

“It also represents the start up of Statoil’s electricity trading unit in our London office, which is responsible for trading the power from Sheringham Shoal into the UK electricity market. We are now well prepared for offshore wind growth in the UK.”