12th July 2024 in Press releases
- Co-developers SSE and Equinor establish commercial terms of a proposed Dogger Bank C lease variation to progress Dogger Bank D, subject to the final outcome of The Crown Estate’s Capacity Improvement Programme and associated plan-Level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA).
- Up to 2GW Dogger Bank D project is the proposed fourth phase of 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm
- Project development proposes to maximise capacity from eastern part of Dogger Bank C seabed lease area in a move that can make the world’s biggest offshore wind farm even bigger
- SSE and Equinor each own 50% of the proposed Dogger Bank D development
SSE and Equinor, co-developers of the proposed Dogger Bank D fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, have established commercial terms with The Crown Estate around an amendment to the existing Dogger Bank C seabed lease. This is subject to the outcome of the Plan-Level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) that is associated with The Crown Estate’s wider Capacity Improvement Programme.
These preliminary terms mark a new milestone in the delivery of a proposed fourth phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm currently under construction off the coast of Yorkshire, England, in the North Sea.
Announced in 2023, Dogger Bank D has a potential capacity of up to 2GW of new renewable energy for the UK energy system which would be generated from maximising the capacity of the eastern portion of the Dogger Bank C seabed lease area. The move would make Dogger Bank, the world’s biggest offshore wind farm being built off the UK, even bigger.
The Dogger Bank D project is one of seven offshore wind farm projects in development which were identified for potential increases in generating capacity when The Crown Estate announced the Capacity Improvement Programme in November 2023 to unlock up to 4GW of potential new green electricity production. The capacity increases under consideration are within areas where seabed leasing agreements are already in place.
Before a final decision is taken on the Capacity Improvement Programme, The Crown Estate is required to undertake a plan-Level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) in order to assess the implications of the Programme for protected habitats. The HRA seeks to understand the collective environmental impact of the additional capacity across all seven projects.
The commercial terms established by project shareholders SSE and Equinor with The Crown Estate lay the groundwork to progress Dogger Bank D subject to the satisfactory outcome of the HRA and, if Dogger Bank D is progressed, subject to any additional provision which may need to be made to secure mitigation or compensatory measures in light of the findings of the HRA.
Rob Cussons, Dogger Bank D Project Director at SSE Renewables, said:
“I am delighted the shareholders in Dogger Bank D have been able to establish commercial terms to amend the Dogger Bank C lease with The Crown Estate, subject to the outcome of the Plan Level HRA and The Crown Estate’s final decision on the Capacity Improvement Programme. It is a move that can unlock the value of more clean energy from the same area of seabed, as we accelerate towards a greener and more secure energy system. This pioneering project is made possible by the joint foresight from shareholders SSE and Equinor along with The Crown Estate to consider an innovative approach to bring forward more clean and secure energy from the available seabed, whilst ensuring that sensitive marine habitats are protected. And in doing so we can make the world’s biggest offshore wind farm even bigger.”
Halfdan Brustad, Equinor’s VP UK Renewables said:
“Reaching this milestone through close collaboration with our partner and The Crown Estate will help support the UK Government’s offshore wind and net zero ambitions, whilst building a competitive UK industry. Following first power, Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, is a key example of what the offshore wind industry can offer, from security of electricity supply to economic growth and long-term jobs.”
The proposed Dogger Bank D project would connect to the national electricity infrastructure network at National Grid’s planned new 400kV substation at Birkhill Wood in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The project would require a new Development Consent Order to progress into construction. Initial consultations have been held with stakeholders, with further activities being planned for later in 2024.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm was awarded rights in The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 3 and is under construction in three phases: A, B and C. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%).
28th June 2024 in Press releases
- SSE and Equinor submit Scoping Report to The Planning Inspectorate for proposed fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm
- Report supports a request for a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion
- Project development made possible by opportunity to maximise capacity from eastern part of Dogger Bank C site
- Up to 2GW project would connect into new 400kV substation located in East Riding of Yorkshire
- SSE and Equinor each own 50% of the proposed Dogger Bank D development
SSE and Equinor, co-developers of the proposed Dogger Bank D fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, have submitted a Scoping Report for the project to The Planning Inspectorate.
This follows publication in March 2024 by National Grid ESO of the Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan (tCSNP2) which included confirmation that Dogger Bank D will connect into Birkhill Wood, a proposed new 400kV substation located in the East Riding of Yorkshire*.
Developed as a 50/50 joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor, Dogger Bank D would, if consented and approved for delivery, have an installed capacity of up to 2GW and be located in the North Sea around 210km off the northeast coast at its closest point to shore. Project development has been made possible by the opportunity to maximise the capacity from the eastern part of the current Dogger Bank C site. Dogger Bank D is working closely with The Crown Estate, who manage the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland to agree the progression of Dogger Bank D.
The existing 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm was granted development consent in 2015 and is currently under construction in the North Sea across three build-out phases, Dogger Bank A, B and C. Once complete, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm in operation.
The proposed fourth phase of the wind farm, Dogger Bank D, has been designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) of more than 100MW of generating capacity. As a result, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for the project to be able to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application.
The purpose of the Scoping Report is to request a formal EIA Scoping Opinion from the Planning Inspectorate which would outline the topics to be assessed in the EIA.
“The Scoping Report is an important milestone for Dogger Bank D and is a key part of the development of an offshore wind farm. The report lays out the scope of the project proposals and identifies key environmental factors. We look forward to receiving a Scoping Opinion from the Planning Inspectorate and input from consultees which will help inform our development proposals.”
Rob Cussons, Project Director for Dogger Bank D
A further round of public consultation on the proposals for Dogger Bank D will take place in Autumn 2024.
The Scoping Report is available to view on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.
14th May 2024 in Construction, Press releases, Project news
Image: Seaway7’s vessel Seaway Strashnov in operations on Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
The team working on what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, have started work on the foundation installation campaign for the second phase of the development.
Seaway7’s vessels Seaway Strashnov and Seaway Alfa Lift have commenced installation of monopile foundations and transition pieces for the Dogger Bank B phase of the offshore wind farm project.
The team recently completed installation of all 95 transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, thus concluding the installation of the foundations for the first phase of the project.
Olly Cass, Dogger Bank Wind Farm Project Director, said:
“These installation milestones are the result of years of commitment and diligence from the project team and its delivery partners. As the world’s largest wind farm of its kind and due to the deployment of new turbine technology, every aspect of the wind farm has required us to come up with new innovative design and engineering solutions that will shape the future construction of offshore wind globally. We extend our thanks and congratulations to the many companies and individuals who’ve risen to this challenge and contributed to the milestone we’re celebrating today.”
Wouter van Dalen, Project Director, Seaway7, said:
“We are happy to welcome Seaway Strashnov back to the project to commence foundation installation on Dogger Bank B – leading on from the vessel’s good performance last year on Dogger Bank A. After introducing our brand-new heavy lift vessel Seaway Alfa Lift to the project in October, the vessel operated through the high weather season installing transition pieces on Dogger Bank A, and now continues this work in phase B. The foundation installation scope is making excellent progress, enabled by our strong collaboration with our client Dogger Bank Wind Farm and our subcontractors.”
The monopile foundations and transition pieces provide a solid and stable base for the scale of GE Vernova’s groundbreaking 13MW Haliade-X turbines. The monopile and transition piece structures were manufactured by Sif and Smulders and are being installed 80-miles off the Yorkshire coast by tier one contractor Seaway7.
Monopiles are the large-diameter tube-shaped steel structures that are installed in the seabed by the vessel using dynamic positioning technology.
The monopiles weigh in at up to 1,424 tonnes each and can measure up to 72.8 metres in length. The Dogger Bank transition pieces feature a pioneering split-level design to support safe installation and operation and have a record-breaking 8m flange to connect the monopiles and transition piece structures.
Confirmation of this offshore milestone on Dogger Bank B follows on from the successful installation of the offshore HVDC platform for the second phase of the wind farm in April.
A total of 277 monopiles and transition pieces will be installed across all three phases of the wind farm, with completion due in 2026.
Steel manufactured by Tata Steel in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool is being used in the supporting components of the transition pieces, while South Tyneside-based Metec and Rochdale-based Granada Material Handling have also won contracts with Smulders to support this innovative and world-leading project.
Designed in the UK by experts from Wood Thilsted, Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s foundations have been optimised to tackle challenging wave loads in the Dogger Bank area of the North Sea, with installation in water depths of up to 32m and at a minimum distance of 130km from shore.
17th April 2024 in Construction, Press releases, Project news, Supply Chain
Dogger Bank, set to become the world’s largest offshore wind farm, has achieved a significant milestone as the second unmanned High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) platform has been installed by Saipem.
The substation is the second of three platforms, each supplied by Aibel, to be installed at Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, which is being constructed in three phases known as A, B, and C, each with a capacity of 1.2GW.
The platform was installed 130km from the UK coastline at Dogger Bank B by Saipem using the Saipem 7000 vessel and features a Hitachi Energy HVDC system developed to transmit power more efficiently than traditional AC systems. The platform will receive 1.2GW of AC power generated by the 95 offshore wind turbines of Dogger Bank B, before converting it to DC for transmission to an onshore converter station located near Beverley in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The first platform was installed at Dogger Bank A in April 2023, representing the first time this technology has been used in offshore wind in the UK. All three platforms will be controlled from shore and feature a lean design, resulting in a 70% weight reduction per MW compared to previous platform designs.
Mads Andersen, CEO and President of Aibel said:
“At Aibel, we recognize that our success is not measured solely by the completion of projects but by the lasting impact we leave on the industry. With this major on-time delivery of Dogger Bank B, we mark another important milestone in Aibel’s transition towards a greener industry. This achievement exemplifies the power of collaboration and reflects the enduring partnerships we have cultivated with industry leaders SSE Renewables, Equinor, Vårgrønn, and our esteemed partner, Hitachi Energy”.
Andreas Berthou, Head of HVDC at Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business, said:
“The urgent energy transition requires strong collaboration, new business models, and global standards. We are proud to be the technology partner for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm project, with HVDC being the force multiplier for the clean energy transition, increasing access to an energy system that is more sustainable, flexible and secure. This is another significant milestone in securing the UK’s future energy needs, made possible by foresighted partners such as SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn that have made the UK a leader in the transition to clean power.”
Measuring 75 meters long x 45 meters wide x 39 meters high, the platform utilises a four-legged steel jacket foundation structure designed and fabricated by Saipem in water depths of around 28 meters.
Gianalberto Secchi, COO of Saipem’s Offshore Wind Business Line, commented:
“We are proud to have contributed to the achievement of this important milestone for the groundbreaking Dogger Bank project, which reaffirms Saipem’s leadership in the offshore industry and our expertise in supporting Clients in the development of offshore wind farms as a key resource for the energy transition worldwide.”
7th March 2024 in Community News, Press releases, Project news
Primary school children are being challenged to create an energy-themed superhero story as part of a competition launched by Dogger Bank Wind Farm and its partners in Redcar and Cleveland.
The 500-word challenge is being launched on World Book Day 2024, to inspire young people to learn about where energy comes from, and how it’s used as a positive force in the world.
In their stories the schoolchildren will create an “energy superhero” which uses its superpowers to save the day.
The competition is part of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm-funded Building our Futures programme, which aims to embed careers education into every primary school in Redcar and Cleveland through engaging workshops supported by local employers.
The programme is being delivered by Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA) with strategic support and guidance from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.
“More than 750 children from over 30 schools have taken part in Building Our Futures workshops since we launched the programme last year,” said programme manager for the RCVDA, Jacqui Hutchinson.
“Children have been inspired by real-life workplace representatives from Dogger Bank’s supply chain and wider local businesses, with pupils experiencing first-hand accounts of careers in a diverse range of industries.
“The book competition will enable young people to use their creative side to express their thoughts about the role different forms of energy play in our lives, and why it’s important to understand where this energy comes from.
“We can’t wait to see our bright, enquiring young people bring their net zero heroes to life.”
The World Book Day competition is being supported by Dogger Bank Wind Farm construction contractor Keltbray, Teesside University, Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency and BBC Tees.
Dogger Bank Wind farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn. The wind farm is being built 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast, and will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm when it’s fully commissioned in 2026.
The north and north-east of England are playing a critical role in the delivery and operation of the wind farm, and more than 2,000 UK based roles have been created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of the wind farm.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm will transmit renewable energy via national electricity network substations in East Riding of Yorkshire, and at Lackenby on Teesside.
The wind farm’s operation and maintenance base is located at Port of Tyne, and the Able Seaton port near Hartlepool is being used by the project’s turbine manufacturer for carrying out pre-assembly work on the turbines during the construction programme.
Primary schools can enter the World Book Day competition at World Book Day Competition – Building our Future – RCVDA
April 12 is the closing date for entries. Authors of the winning books will receive a book voucher and the chance for their class to visit Dogger Bank Wind Farm’s operation and maintenance base at Port of Tyne.
