In 2008, Mainstream joined forces with Siemens Project Ventures (SPV) to form SMart Wind, a 50:50 joint venture that successfully secured the rights to develop the Hornsea Zone as part of The Crown Estate’s Round 3 programme.
Mainstream is unique in that it was the only non-utility to win a licence under the UK Round 3 competition. There were nine zones available in the competition and Mainstream won development rights for one of the three largest zones. Major utilities with big balance sheet capabilities won the other eight zones. Mainstream was incorporated just over one year and three months when it won the licence against some of the biggest utilities in the world. It makes us the leading offshore developer in Europe.
SMart Wind is the only supply chain led consortium in the Round 3 programme and has key relationships with leading supply chain companies including Siemens T&DL, Siemens Wind Power, EMU Limited, RPS and Fugro GeoConsulting.
The development strategy involves consenting the Zone in four 1GW phases, each containing two 500MW project blocks that share a connection to shore. Geotechnical studies are being carried out for each block on an annual basis.
- Milestones achieved:
- Grid connection secured for first 1GW.
- 5-year geotechnical framework agreement signed with Fugro GeoConsulting.
- Installing the world’s first ‘twisted jacket’ foundation for its met mast.
- Scoping Report for Project One submitted.
- Held first series of public consultation events in the region in early 2011.
