The multi-million pound contract is for a ScottishPower Renewables project in the North Sea, known as East Anglia ONE.

Lamprell, an international provider of fabrication, engineering and contracting services, is to fabricate 60 steel foundation jackets for the East Anglia ONE offshore windfarm. As part of the agreement, ScottishPower Renewables has ensured that the Harland and Wolff facility will deliver 24 of the jackets, supporting up to 200 jobs in Belfast.

Standing over 65 meters tall and weighing more than 845 tonnes, the three-legged steel jacket structures will be nearly as prominent on the Belfast skyline as the famous Samson and Goliath cranes.

Lamprell’s Jebel Ali and Sharjah yards in the UAE will also work on the contract, with the project due to commence in March 2017 and last for a period of approximately 18 months.

East Anglia ONE is a £2.5 billion offshore windfarm which will generate 714MW of electricity when completed in 2020, enough to power 500,000 homes per year. ScottishPower Renewables is on target to deliver an industry-leading 50% UK content across the life of the project.

The project will be the most cost efficient offshore windfarm ever to confirm construction, and is leading the way to meet the UK Government’s cost reduction targets. The price of £119 MWh was secured after a competitive auction process run by the Government, and is more than 15% lower than other offshore wind projects in construction elsewhere in the UK.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of ScottishPower Renewables, said: “East Anglia ONE will be the best value offshore windfarm ever constructed, at the same time as delivering industry-leading levels of UK content. Both of these considerations have been prominent in our thinking during the process of placing these contracts and we are pleased that Belfast will play important roles in delivering this project, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs.

“The facilities in Belfast are excellent for supporting offshore wind construction, as we experienced on our West of Duddon Sands project. We hope that the successful delivery of this contract will lead to even more opportunities in the offshore wind industry for Belfast.

“Our contracting strategy will ensure that over 50% of the overall lifetime investment for East Anglia ONE goes to suppliers in the UK. We are encouraging investment and supporting highly skilled jobs in Hull, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and now Belfast, and we are also in discussions with a range of other UK suppliers to deliver important contracts covering all aspects of this major project.”

H&W Chief Executive, Robert J Cooper, said: “H&W are delighted to work with such a prestigious company as ScottishPower Renewables, on a project of nationally significant importance. Harland and Wolff have always been renowned for their unsurpassed quality and our collaboration with Lamprell Energy enhances our offer in terms of capacity and cost effectiveness. We look forward to a successful relationship with ScottishPower Renewables and Lamprell Energy.”

Jonathan Guest, H&W Director, Business Development added: “In a global supply chain environment, it is significant when a developer stands over its commitment to give opportunities to local fabricators, as ScottishPower Renewables have demonstrated for East Anglia ONE. Given the opportunity of a level playing field, we believe UK fabricators can surpass the best the market can offer. When you consider the importance of this project to the UK with regard to energy security, that is not only green but at a low cost, you can understand the pride Harland and Wolff has in being part of this important development and of the contribution it will bring into the Northern Ireland economy.”