Dogger Bank Wind Farm, the world’s largest offshore wind farm with a capacity of 3.6GW, is set for expansion after its developers, SSE and Equinor, submitted a scoping report for Phase D of the project. The latest move could add more than two GW of capacity to the project, according to a press release.
As countries around the world look for cleaner methods to meet their energy demand, renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are being aggressively adopted. The UK, which has land and sunshine constraints, finds it easier to deploy offshore wind projects.
Going offshore with wind farms also allows the region to take advantage of strong North Sea winds, which led to approval for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in 2015. While the project is still under construction in three phases, its developers are seeking permission for a fourth phase that could further increase its energy production capacity.
How big is the Dogger Bank project?
Located up to 124 miles (200 km) off the Yorkshire coast, the Dogger Bank project is a group of offshore wind farms located in the North Sea. The project is being built in phases with a capacity of 1.2 GW.
The project is powered by an array of GE Halide wind turbines that have a maximum rated output of 14.7 MW. Up to 277 turbines are expected to be installed in the first three phases of the project, resulting in a combined power generation capacity of 3.6 GW. At its peak, the project will be able to meet the energy needs of six million UK homes.
The project started generating electricity for the first time in October last year. However, the completion date of these three phases extends to 2025.
Dogger Bank D forms
As construction activity continues on previous phases of the Dogger Bank project, its developers, SSE Renewables and Equinor, have begun the process for Phase D. Construction of the wind turbines in this phase would extend the Dogger Bank project 130 miles (210 km) offshore.
The Dogger Bank D project will connect to the proposed Birkhill Wood substation in the East Riding of Yorkshire, according to the Transitional Centralized Strategic Grid Plan issued by the UK’s National Grid ESO, a press release said.
The developers have applied for planning permission from The Crown Estate, the governing body for the seabed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If approved, Dogger Bank Phase D will have a capacity of 2GW on completion, adding to the capacity of the world’s largest offshore wind farm.
Due to its power generation capacity, Dogger Bank Phase D is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before proceeding.
The developers’ scoping report sets the EIA process in motion.
“The Scoping Report is an important milestone for Dogger Bank D and is a key part of the development of the offshore wind farm. The report defines the scope of the project proposals and identifies the key environmental drivers,” Rob Cussons, Dogger Bank D project director at SSE Renewables, said in a press release.
“We look forward to receiving a scoping opinion from the Planning Inspectorate and input from consultants to help inform our development proposals,” Cussons added.
ABOUT THE EDITORIAL
Ameya Paleja Ameya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A molecular biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette for writing about science during the pandemic and doesn’t want to go back. He enjoys writing about genetics, microbes, technology and public policy.