Certex UK adds two windfarms to its RWE portfolio

Certex UK’s Great Yarmouth based Engineering Services Division has won a major framework to supply statutory inspection and maintenance services on London Array and Greater Gabbard offshore windfarms, building on their existing portfolio with RWE, one of the world leaders in offshore wind power.

London Array is located 20km off the north Kent coast in the Outer Thames Estuary and comprises of 175 turbines producing 630MW, generating enough clean electricity to power around 500,000 British homes, while displacing around 900,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. It is maintained and operated from the Port of Ramsgate. RWE has a 30% project share in the windfarm with 25% CDPQ, 25% Orsted and 20% Masdar.

Ian Shaw, Engineering Services Divisional Manager, Certex UK said: “It’s great to be back working on London Array, Certex completed the installation statutory inspections during the preassembly phase of the windfarm back in 2011 and it was one of the first projects we worked on in the wind industry leading the way to where we are today. We have had the privilege to work on many preassembly projects in our history, handing over in excess of 1,800 compliant turbines with over 11,500 MW of combined capacity”.

Greater Gabbard, the second newly awarded windfarm on the framework, is an equal share holding joint venture between SSE Renewables and RWE Renewables, comprising of 140 turbines generating 504MW of clean energy powering over 400,000 UK homes. Located 20km off the coast of Suffolk it is serviced from and O&M base in Lowestoft.

Terry Hoenes, Renewables Divisional Manager, Certex UK said: “We have a history working on the Greater Gabbard and were delighted to be awarded the framework with RWE, the windfarm was a pioneering project for the UK offshore wind industry and for many years was the largest wind farm under development worldwide”.         

Certex UK’s Engineering Services Division is part of the Lifting Solutions Group of 22 companies with over 100 locations worldwide, with the renewable energy sector largely being served to date from the UK, Taiwan and Denmark. However, a newly launched global renewables division incorporates additional companies in Germany, Spain, France, China, and the United States, which has recently pivoted towards wind energy.

Scott Wilcox, Managing Director Certex UK, said “Our Engineering Services Division was formed in 2018 when our 50-year-old Oil & Gas Division and 10-year-old Renewables Division were brought under one energy serving department. Both divisions had many synergies, and it was a logical step to start cross training our Oil & Gas Engineers to facilitate the ongoing energy transition.” Wilcox added “The renewables industry growth is continually accelerating and we need to ensure the wider supply chain and pool of skilled workers are available, to play our part in this we have developed a route to career programme covering the entry level GWO safety training at our newly accredited facility in Doncaster and the technical inspection training at our site in Great Yarmouth. We have also recently started working with ex forces resettlement agencies and look forward to introducing many more new people to a career in wind”