Granada Material Handling signs contract to do work for world’s biggest windfarm

Mark Sidwell, Director, Granada, with Duncan Clark, Hornsea Project 1 Director

Rochdale-based Granada Material Handling Limited (Granada) is the latest UK firm to sign a contract with Dong Energy for the world’s biggest windfarm, Hornsea Project One.

With a capacity of over one gigawatt (GW), Hornsea Project One will be capable of supplying well over one million homes when it is built, 120km off the Yorkshire Coast.

Each of the 7MW turbines will require a davit crane and Granada will assemble and test all 174 at their facility in Rochdale.

Mark Sidwell, director of Granada Material Handling Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased to have been awarded another prestigious UK wind farm project. Securing this contract has been a real team effort by the Granada Renewable product and service division.

“The Hornsea Project One contract is not only great news for Granada but also for our UK based supply chain. Granada has ambitious plans for this market sector and having supplied over 650 offshore davits is the UK’s leading offshore wind farm davit crane supplier’.

Each crane weighs approximately 3000kg and has the lifting capacity of one tonne. They will be fixated to the foundation platform next to the turbine tower, to help lift parts and tools from the boats that transport the crew (Crew Transfer Vessels) to the turbines.

Duncan Clark, Hornsea Project One Director, said: “We’re delighted to award another UK firm a contract to supply Hornsea Project One. It’s such a huge project and so really great to see contracts of all sizes benefitting UK firms.

“With more projects planned in the UK, it is of strategic importance to us to develop the supply chain here. Earlier this month we announced our investment in CS Wind’s facility in Campbeltown enabling them to be the first company in the UK with the ability to manufacture offshore turbine towers.

“Today’s contract benefits not just Granada but also their UK-based suppliers. Orders like this will help to develop suppliers’ expertise for future UK offshore projects, and hopefully projects even wider than the UK.”

As part of its strategic sourcing strategy for Hornsea Project One, Dong Energy is placing orders with UK firms, such as Granada, for many components and services for the project (see below). Granada, who design and assemble the cranes, also place importance on local sub-contracts with their main fabricators in Bolton, final motor assembly in Leeds and painting and coating near Liverpool.