HI Uplift: CHC wins contract to support Ørsted’s ‘cornerstone’ wind farm
An Airbus H175 and an AW139 will fulfil the contract (Photocredit: CHC Helicopter).
CHC Helicopter has won a new contract from renewable energy company Ørsted to support the construction of the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm.
Described by CHC as a “cornerstone” of the UK government’s climate and clean energy targets, the project, when combined with Hornsea 1 and 2 wind farms, is predicted to offer a generating capacity of 2.9GW – enough energy to power more than three million homes.
Operations will commence on the 21‑month contract at the beginning of March 2026. CHC will deploy an Airbus H175 and an AW139 helicopter from its Humberside base to transport crew to and from the Hornsea 3 wind farm. The site is located in the North Sea 124 miles (200km) north-east of Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Paul Hazell, construction project manager, Ørsted says: “CHC has supported Ørsted since the construction phase of Hornsea 2 in 2017, and in that time has developed valuable expertise in crew change missions specific to offshore wind farms – a sector that remains relatively new for many helicopter operators.
“Their familiarity with our operations, combined with a strong safety culture and consistent delivery, makes CHC a reliable and trusted provider.”
Dave Grant, commercial director – Europe, CHC Helicopter believes Hornsea 3 is “one of the world’s most ambitious offshore wind projects” and a landmark for UK energy.
‘This extraordinary project’
“Hornsea 3 is a major step toward a greener future, supporting skilled jobs, regional growth and long-term energy security,” he says. “We’re excited to continue to support Ørsted as this extraordinary project takes shape.”
The project is also predicted to deliver up to £8.5bn in economic value. This will reportedly arise through the creation of thousands of high‑skilled jobs during construction and decades of operation and supply chain investment.
Offshore wind energy already provides a significant proportion of the UK’s energy mix, Jason Ledden, senior project director, Hornsea 3 at Ørsted, tells us. “Renewables as a whole provided 50.4% of the UK’s electricity compared with 31.8% from fossil fuels,” he says. “Wind remains the UK’s biggest source of clean power, providing 29.2% of our electricity in 2024. A total of 17% of the UK’s electricity was produced by offshore wind last year.”
“Ørsted alone provides 7% of the UK’s energy supply,” he adds.
Dual approach to operations
Ørsted’s Hazell says using both the Airbus H175 and the Leonardo AW139 during the construction phase allows CHC to scale up or down based on daily personnel transfer needs, optimise crew logistics and ensure timely rotations. The AW139 also brings “adaptability to platform constraints”, because it is able to access more restricted helidecks.
The H175 is the optimal choice for far-shore crew change missions due to its high passenger capacity, extended range and endurance and safety features, including state-of-the-art avionics and autopilot systems. “These capabilities allow for fast, safe and efficient crew rotations, minimising downtime and optimising offshore workforce management,” says Hazell.
Beyond compatibility with smaller helidecks, the AW139 offers flexibility for smaller-scale or ad-hoc crew changes, as well as proven reliability, with the airframe being a cornerstone of Ørsted’s UK operations since 2017. “As one of the launch customers for the AW139 in the offshore environment, CHC is extremely experienced in operating this type, further strengthening the reliability of the service,” explains Hazell.
Supporting an industry
For Ørsted, helicopters are an essential logistic solution when working farshore in both construction and the operational phase of a project.
“During construction our helicopter fleet will primarily be used for passenger transfer and crew changes,” says Hazell. “This allows us to have a flexible, robust and fast transfer plan. The vessel fleet could do the same but given the farshore distances it would take considerably longer to complete, creating more risk, cost and loss of valuable construction activities that the vessels are needed to support.”
There is also the welfare aspect. “Being able to support our personal at times of need to get back them back to shore as quickly as possible for any eventuality that may arise,” he says. “Having the heliport directly next to our construction office also helps in planning and mobilisation.”
CHC has been positioning itself as a specialist in the offshore wind energy industry. Last year, it was chosen by RWE Renewables to provide crew transportation for the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm. Since 2023, it has supported the construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm – a joint venture between energy companies SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn.
Despite being built on a seabed of sands and clay, Hornsea 3 will likely form a cornerstone of offshore wind energy production well beyond the tenure of this government. Three million homes is almost 10% of all houses in the UK.
