Project Case Studies

Session B8 | Day 2, Weds 30 June, 13.45-15.00pm

Session Summary
Specific project case studies from the UK detailing any lessons learnt and best practice for the future.

• Hugh McNeal, CEO, Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED)
• Ian Johnson, Senior Project Manager – Robin Rigg, E.ON Climate Change & Renewables
• Rune Ronvik, Sheringham Shoal, Statoil & Statkraft
• Ole Bigum Nielsen, Head of UK Offshore Projects, Vattenfall Wind Power
• Richard Sandford, Head of Offshore Business & Asset Management, RWE Innogy GmbH

	Chair: Hugh McNeal, CEO, Office for Renewable Energy Deployment (ORED) Hugh McNeal is Chief Executive of the Office for Renewable Energy Deployment in the Department of Energy and Climate Change. From 2008 until earlier this year, he led the Low Carbon Business Team in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, developing the UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy. Hugh’s previous roles include leading reviews of Planning and Health and Safety for the Better Regulation Executive as well as a variety of roles at the Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and Essex County Council. Hugh was educated at the London School of Economics and Harvard University where he also taught from 1995 to 2000. Hugh is Chair of Equinox Care, a charity providing alcohol, drug and mental health services across South East England.
	Speaker: Ian Johnson, Senior Project Manager – Robin Rigg, E.ON Climate Change & Renewables Robin Rigg – The Challenges The 180MW Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm was fully commissioned and handed over in April 2010. Located in the demanding environments of the Solway Firth, the construction presented a number of challenges in the design and execution phase. This presentation gives a flavour of those challenges that were ultimately resolved and an overview of the construction process and its highlights. Biography Ian Johnson has been the Senior Project Manager for the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm since E.ON purchased the project in 2003. Originally responsible for the development and financial sanction of the scheme he was ultimately responsible for the delivery of the construction phase through to project completion in April 2010. Ian was also involved in the successful bid to the Crown Estates for the rights to develop the 1000MW London Array wind farm in the Thames Estuary. He has a Mechanical Engineering background and started his career as a design draughtsman in the nuclear industry. Since joining E.ON he has held a number of project management posts in Powergen CHP, Powergen Renewables and E.ON Climate & Renewables.
	Speaker: Rune Ronvik, Sheringham Shoal, Statoil & Statkraft Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm – experiences and learning from the planning, consenting and execution phases The 317MW Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm located about 20km off the Norfolk coast is the first of the Round 2 wind farm projects in the Greater Wash to receive consent and pass financial investment decision. The project is currently in the execution phase. Onshore installation work began in June last year, offshore installation has started, and prepare-for-operation is underway. The start of electricity production is planned for 2Q next year. This presentation will share some of the learnings and experiences gained during the planning, consenting and execution phases, covering topics including area-related consent challenges, construction contract strategy, strategy for O&M, scour protection, problems with grouted connections, and strategy for the OFTO process. Biography Rune Rønvik has about 20 years experience from oil and gas business most of the time as project manager within areas varying from business development in Norway and internationally, project manager for oil and gas field development in early phases and during execution phase, and as offshore installation manager at the Troll Field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The last two and a half years he has been project director for the Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm project.
	Speaker: Ole Bigum Nielsen, Head of UK Offshore Projects, Vattenfall Wind PowerThanet Project - A Case Study The first monopile foundation for the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm went in on 20 March 2009. In the autumn of this year the wind farm will be complete and with 100 turbines it will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world, for a while. This presentation shows the construction process we have followed and includes valuable lessons learned. Biography Ole Bigum Nielsen is the UK Offshore Wind Power Director and is responsible for all UK offshore projects within Vattenfall. Ole’s current remit incorporates the set up & management of the UK Offshore Wind Power Team, working from a dedicated Wind Power Team Projects Office based in central London near Victoria. Ole began his career in Wind Power at Vattenfall in 2006, having successfully project managed within the construction industry as a project Engineer and later as Head of a Civil Works Department. At Vattenfall Ole began working onshore & then offshore in Denmark, Holland, Scotland and Sweden. Ole began managing large & technically complex projects requiring detailed knowledge about technical issues as design of an wind farm, wind measurements and energy production calculations .Ole has particular expertise in the design, commissioning, and management of ‘offshore’ wind farms. Alongside Ole's project management & professional training Ole has gained detailed knowledge on project negotiations, contracting, legal issues, commercial issues, financial issues, cost benefits, feasibility studies, budgeting and CAPEX management. Ole’s portfolio now includes being director of The Ormonde project, The Extension projects to round 2 & 3 and the opening of the largest offshore wind farm in the world ‘Thanet’ in September 2010.
	Speaker: Richard Sandford, Head of Offshore Business & Asset Management, RWE Innogy GmbH Gwynt-y-Mor – Making it a reality The 576MW Gwynt-y-Môr Offshore Wind farm has recently received its final investment decision and the go-ahead to be built from RWE. RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke München and Siemens have entered into a joint venture to build the offshore wind farm. Gwynt-y-Môr, a UK Round 2 project has been through some challenges to reach this stage, this presentation will provide an overview of the project and share some of the lessions learnt in economically optimising the project and finding partners to ensure the project is successfully realised. Biography Richard is an experienced manager with over 20 years in the electricity generation industry. With a background in engineering as a Chartered Engineer, he has worked at coal, oil and gas-fired power stations, and also gained experience managing CHP plants and offshore wind farm development projects. In recent years Richard has held a number of senior roles within RWE npower’s Generation & Renewables business, including Regional Manager for npower Cogen, and Engineering Manager at Littlebrook Power Station. In January 2008, Richard joined npower’s renewables business as Project Director for Gwynt-y-Môr Offshore Wind Farm. Richard is now Head of Offshore Business & Asset Management for RWE Innogy, with reasonability for the commercial and business management of the European offshore business and for each of RWE's offshore wind projects, from conception, through development & construction and into operation.