A Yorkshire-based project to create the largest offshore wind farm in the world has been shortlisted for a prestigious civil engineering award.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced that Hornsea Onshore Substation, has been shortlisted for recognition in its 2019 Yorkshire and Humber Awards.
Once complete in 2020, Hornsea offshore windfarm will produce enough green energy to power over one million homes. It will be the first wind farm to exceed 1GW in capacity.
The substation element of the scheme, which was carried out by Ørsted and Balfour Beatty, was completed in August 2018.
Kate Browne from Balfour Beatty said: “The relationship developed between Balfour Beatty and Ørsted over the past decade produces action and delivers success.
“We are creating momentum and change within this industry, leading the way to breakthroughs, including the 2017 milestone when it became cheaper to build and operate windfarms than coal and gas powered power-stations.
“We are delighted that such a unique civil engineering project has been shortlisted.”
The project is one of seven projects from across the region to be shortlisted for the Centenary Award, alongside Goole sewer flooding alleviation project and Bolton Upon Dearne Wastewater Treatment Works.
The awards are held annually to showcase the outstanding work done during the past year by civil engineers in the Yorkshire and Humber Region. They are divided into three categories; projects with a cost in excess of £5m will compete for the Centenary Award, those under £5m can apply for the Smeaton Award, and those concerned with studies and research can compete for the Sir John Fowler Award.
In 2018 the Centenary Award was won by the Skipton flood alleviation scheme.
This year’s winners will be revealed at the ICE’s annual black-tie gala dinner at Sheffield City Hall on March 15, sponsored by GHD.
Penny Marshall, the ICE’s regional director for Yorkshire and Humber said: “The standards of entries we have seen this year is exceptionally high and the judges now have a very difficult task ahead of them.
“There are thousands of civil engineers in Yorkshire and Humber that work tirelessly to design, improve and maintain the infrastructure that we rely on, and these awards are a great opportunity to highlight the positive impact their work has on our lives.”
