”Our largest contract ever! We are experiencing great demand for our services from the offshore wind industry,” says Arne Marthinsen, CEO of Einar Øgrey Farsund.
The contract, worth more than NOK 100 million, includes HVDC substations for Dogger Bank C, Dolwin 5, Hornsea 3 and Hornsea 4. Previously, Einar Øgrey Farsund has installed a similar substation at Dogger Bank A and is currently installing Dogger Bank B.
“We have been in the offshore wind industry since 2010. Based on our experience, we can perform tasks more efficiently that many competitors. This increases our competitiveness and makes us a preferred partner, even though our hourly rate is probably higher than our foreign competition,” says Marthinsen.
Einar Øgrey Farsund gained a lot of experience working for ABB at the German offshore wind farm Bard Offshore 1, which at that time was the world’s largest offshore wind farm. The company has since been part of the electrification of Valhall and Troll, both onshore and offshore. They have contributed to the LitPol project, an interconnection between Lithuania and Poland, and installed substations in Dubai and Kongo, to mention a few.
Offshore substations are situated above the water, placed on top of a jacket structure. Their function is to reduce electrical losses by rectifying the high voltage alternating current (AC) into high voltage direct current (DC), and then exporting the power to shore.
For Einar Øgrey Farsund, working on one substation will typically employ 15 to 20 people for 9 to 11 months. There is a lot of work to be done in the assembly phase and some additional work in the commissioning phase.
The new contract was awarded by Hitachi Energy, formerly part of ABB, which has always been a close partner of Einar Øgrey Farsund.
“Considering the enormous plans for offshore wind development, especially in Europe, there are not enough producers of energy infrastructure. We are comfortable with our position in this market and optimistic about the future,” says Marthinsen.
Einar Øgrey Farsund currently employs approximately 100 people, including temps.
