Consolidated Communications System Design & Installation

OEG Energy Group, a leading offshore solutions business, is pleased to announce that Fern Communications (“Fern”), an OEG Renewables business based in Lowestoft in Suffolk, has been selected by a leading global energy firm to consolidate the communications systems across its wind farm operations in the UK.

Fern’s specialist engineers will design and install a new communications system that integrates with the range of different technologies being used at each of the wind farm sites located in the North Sea, English Channel and Irish Sea. At present, the communications equipment and systems deployed are typically site specific, dependent on factors such as the age, location and size of the wind farm. Fern’s team will work both on and offshore to install the necessary hardware and software to provide a consolidated communications solution.

The new communications system will deliver a seamless interface for Marine Controllers at the central control room (CCR) at a new Hub facility that is currently under construction. Additionally, the new system will allow for marine coordination centre (MCC) control to be transferred across the asset owner’s wind farm operations and maintenance bases and for the remote takeover of MCC communications.

This integrated system approach will provide the asset owner with increased operational security, flexibility and resilience across its wind farms around the UK’s shores, enabling 24/7 control and monitoring of over 440 offshore turbines and associated infrastructure. Going forward, Fern’s specialist team will provide servicing and technical support for the new system and will also be working on advancements to further enhance and integrate communications systems.

Clive Cushion, Technical Director at Fern Communications, said:

We are delighted to be working on this critical project to deliver a new consolidated communications solution for a major asset owner’s offshore wind farm portfolio in the UK. This specialist service offering further underlines how OEGR and Fern have positioned themselves as key players providing integrated services to tier-1 wind farm developers in the UK and globally, successfully delivering innovative, cutting-edge solutions to enhance wind farm operations.