13th May 2025 in Project news
- The Crown Estate Capacity Increase Programme will unlock 4.7GW of additional UK capacity including up to 2GW from Dogger Bank D.
- Dogger Bank D is the proposed fourth phase to increase the size of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
- Project development maximises capacity from the eastern part of the Dogger Bank C seabed lease area to 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, developers of the proposed Dogger Bank D offshore wind farm, welcome the decision by The Crown Estate to proceed with its Capacity Increase Programme to maximise the potential of existing offshore wind lease areas in the UK.
The decision, which has been agreed by the UK Secretary of State for Energy & Net Zero, allows for the ongoing progression of the up to 2GW Dogger Bank D project, a proposed fourth phase of the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm currently in construction in the North Sea.
The Crown Estate’s Capacity Increase Programme was first announced in November 2023. The programme allows for the existing seabed rights agreements of seven fixed-bottom offshore windfarms located around England and Wales to be amended, subject to agreement of terms with The Crown Estate, to unlock 4.7GW of increased available capacity for new green electricity production.
These include the existing seabed lease area agreement for Dogger Bank C, the third phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm. By amending this lease in agreement with The Crown Estate, SSE and Equinor can maximise the capacity of the eastern portion of the Dogger Bank C seabed lease area to unlock potential capacity of up to 2GW of new renewable energy at what would be Dogger Bank D, for the UK energy system.
Paul Cooley, Director of Offshore Wind, SSE Renewables said:
“This decision marks a further milestone in the progression of SSE’s offshore wind pipeline off the coast of England in the UK North Sea. The addition of Dogger Bank D would make our existing 3.6GW Dogger Bank project, the world’s biggest offshore wind farm currently being built off the UK, even bigger.
“Working with our joint venture partner, we now look forward to engaging closely with The Crown Estate on the next steps to agree the progression of Dogger Bank D, while also progressing the project to secure a new Development Consent Order. If delivered Dogger Bank D can play a vital contribution towards the UK’s clean power targets from offshore wind.”
Melissa Read, Head of Regional Development UK, Equinor said:
“This innovative approach allows us to unlock further value and volume from the Dogger Bank seabed, whilst protecting the marine environment.
“Dogger Bank D would allow for more renewable energy, which is key to meet the UK Government’s offshore wind and net zero ambitions and further progress the UK’s energy transition.”
The decision to proceed with the Capacity Increase Programme follows the conclusion of a plan-Level Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) by The Crown Estate to assess the effects of the capacity increase on protected habitats. Under the decision the capacity increase will proceed based on a derogation, with compensation measures to address identified impacts on marine habitats and species.
The proposed Dogger Bank D project was first announced in 2023. In July 2024, SSE and Equinor established commercial terms with The Crown Estate around an amendment to the existing Dogger Bank C seabed lease, subject to the outcome of the plan-Level HRA.
The 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.
A non-statutory community consultation on the project took place in autumn 2024, with a statutory consultation due to take place in summer 2025.
The delivery of Dogger Bank D is subject to a new Development Consent Order as well as a final investment decision by the 50:50 joint venture partners SSE Renewables and Equinor.
The existing 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). The project was awarded rights in The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 3 and is currently under construction in three 1.2GW phases: A, B and C.
2nd May 2025 in Community News
- Scholarships are available for students in South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and East Riding of Yorkshire pursuing science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees.
- A total of 30 scholarships will be awarded in 2025 to help with further education costs, representing part of a £25 million community investment.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm continues to invest in the future of local communities with the opening of the fifth round of its scholarship program. This initiative provides crucial financial aid to undergraduate students studying in STEM fields from South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland, and East Riding of Yorkshire.
This year, a further 30 scholarships will be awarded, enabling students from these areas to pursue their undergraduate degrees with reduced financial strain. These scholarships are a vital component of Dogger Bank’s wider community fund, which is dedicated to supporting young people and communities nearest to our construction and operational bases.
Already, 94 local students have benefited from Dogger Bank’s support. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is proud to have played a role in the academic journeys of students studying a wide range of subjects from physics and medicine, to surveying and aerospace engineering.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located more than 130km from the North East coast and will generate enough renewable electricity to power six million UK homes. The project is a joint venture between Equinor, SSE Renewables, and Vårgrønn.
SSE Renewables is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years. Vårgrønn brings offshore wind expertise to the project.
The wind farm, being built in three phases named A, B, and C, will connect to the National grid in East Riding of Yorkshire and in Teesside. The operations and maintenance base for the wind farm is in South Shields and will be used throughout its 35-year operational lifespan.
You can apply for the 2025 Dogger Bank scholarship programme here.
Picture caption: Dogger Bank 2024 Scholarship cohort at a celebration event in April 2025
30th April 2025 in Community News
Tuesday 22nd April 2025: Future STEM professionals gather to celebrate achievement and opportunity
The Dogger Bank Wind Farm scholarship celebration day brought together scholarship recipients for a special event recognising their accomplishments and potential. Held at the Dogger Bank Operations base in South Shields, North East England, the celebration offered students a glimpse into the vibrant future ahead as they prepare to pursue studies in fields that will shape the UK’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) sectors and beyond.
Recipients of the 2024 Dogger Bank Wind Farm Scholarships joined the event, taking part in tours of the newly constructed operations and maintenance base, interactive sessions, and discussions with leaders and industry professionals.
The celebration included a tour, hosted by North Star, on one of four state-of-the-art service operations vessels (SOVs) supplied to the project to operate the wind farm over 80 miles from shore.
The Dogger Bank scholarship scheme supports students studying higher education STEM subjects from South Tyneside, East Riding of Yorkshire, and Redcar and Cleveland.
“This day isn’t just about celebration, it’s about empowerment,” said Kay Doragh, Community Investment Manager at Dogger Bank Wind Farm. “Each of these scholarship recipients represent the future of STEM sectors in the UK, and today we honour not just their achievements, but the impact they are destined to make.”
Dylan Bingham, Energy Engineering student at Newcastle College and a part-time installation technician, said:
“The Dogger Bank scholarship allowed me to focus a lot more on my studies, taking away a lot of the pressures away financially. I work weekends as an installation technician and the scholarship enabled me to focus on my studies throughout the week. In the future, I would like to work in project management for offshore wind projects.”
The 2025 Celebration Day highlighted the strong partnership between the Dogger Bank Wind Farm project and the communities it supports, and the role of education in driving long-term change.
The 2025 round of Dogger Bank scholarships are now open. To apply, visit https://www.blackbullion.com/funding/dogger-bank-stem-scholarship
Watch the video below to hear from the scholars about how the scholarship has helped them throughout their studies and supported their career aspirations.
16th April 2025 in Community News
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has won another award for its work building a sustainable legacy in its key communities.
The project scooped the Community Impact Award in this year’s Northern Echo BUSINESSiQ awards.
Community investment manager for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Kay Doragh, said:
“The level of excellence we are supporting around reaching primary schools, making STEM careers accessible, CPD for teachers and using creativity to inspire children is fantastic. The most important thing about social investment is that it has real impact – so I’m delighted to see this award recognise what our delivery partners are achieving in their local communities.”
In June 2024, Dogger Bank Wind Farm announced the next phase of its community fund, committing £25 million to be used in the North and North East of England throughout the operational phase of the wind farm.
The community fund will continue to be used to enhance science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) education for young people, equipping them with the skills to succeed in a net zero world.
The new community fund builds on the £1 million community fund set up during the construction phase of Dogger Bank, which has already supported more than 36,000 young people across 204 schools, provided 62 university scholarships, and provided 87 grants to local community groups.
In Redcar and Cleveland, the wind farm is investing in a primary school STEM careers programme that has helped more than 4,000 young people to learn about the opportunities available to them in a net zero world.
The programme is delivered by the Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency (RCVDA), with strategic support from Redcar and Cleveland Council.
Programme co-ordinator for RCVDA Jacqui Hutchinson, said:
“This Community Impact Award couldn’t be more deserved and acknowledges the difference that Dogger Bank Wind Farm has affected in the lives of primary aged children in Redcar and Cleveland, by their embrace of an innovative partnership between the local authority, the voluntary sector, schools and the businesses in their supply chain, which has created a programme that has received national recognition.
None of this would have been possible without the tireless support of Kay, the wider Dogger Bank family, the businesses they work with, and last, but not least, the warm and open embrace we have received in the schools across the Borough, as we work together to overcome the disadvantage may young students face and build their confidence towards a brighter future.”
Further information about the Dogger Bank community fund and information on how to apply for grants and scholarships can be found here: www.doggerbank.com/about/community/
A full list of Dogger Bank’s accolades is available here https://doggerbank.com/about/our-awards/
11th April 2025 in Project news
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has submitted a request to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to amend the wording in its Development Consent Order, to allow for phases A and B of the project to progress separately through the OFTO sales process. As part of this application and in line with the Planning Act 2008, we have now opened a formal period of consultation with stakeholders on the proposed wording amendments.
Further details of this process are available in the Reg 6 notice below:
SECTION 153 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008 REGULATION 6 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (CHANGES TO, AND REVOCATION OF, DEVELOPEMNT CONSENT ORDERS) REGULATIONS 2011 NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO MAKE A NON-MATERIAL CHANGE TO THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER: THE DOGGER BANK CREYKE BECK OFFSHORE WIND FARM ORDER 2015 (AS AMENDED) (S.I. 2015/318)
REF: EN010021
- An application has been made by Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited (“Projco 1”) and Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 2 Projco Limited (“Projco 2”) (together the “Applicant”) to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to make a non-material change (“NMC”) to the above mentioned Development Consent Order (the “DCO”) (ref: EN010021).
- The DCO granted development consent to Doggerbank Project 1 Bizco Limited (“Bizco 1”) for “Project A” and Doggerbank Project 4 Bizco Limited (“Bizco 4”) for “Project B” – two offshore wind turbine generating stations each comprising up to 200 wind turbine generators and associated development in the Dogger Bank Zone and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Bizco 1 was renamed at Companies House as Projco 1, and Project A was renamed Dogger Bank A (herein “DBA”). Bizco 4 was renamed at Companies House as Projco 2 and Project B was renamed Dogger Bank B (herein “DBB”).
- The application seeks to make non-material changes to the drafting of the DCO by amending the wording of certain definitions, articles and paragraphs of schedules to allow DBA and DBB to be considered separately, and for the discharge and enforcement of each project’s relevant requirements to be distinct from the other project.
- The contact details of the Applicant are:
Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited and Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 2 Projco Limited at No. 1 Forbury Place 43 Forbury Road, Reading, United Kingdom, RG1 3JH.
5. Email contact is possible by contacting:
DoggerBankConsentsConsultations@sse.com.
6. The application documents and details of the changes proposed by this NMC Application are available for inspection, free of charge, at the “Documents” tab on the National Infrastructure Planning Portal’s Dogger Bank Creyke Beck page here: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010021
7. For general enquiries on how to obtain any of the documents or on the information contained within them, please contact the Applicant (DoggerBankConsentsConsultations@sse.com).
8. A free digital copy of the application documents can also be obtained from the Applicant using the contact details provided above. This will be available until the deadline for responses set out below closes. Alternatively, a paper copy can be obtained from the Applicant for a charge of £300.
9. Please send any representations about the application by email to the Planning Inspectorate at:
DBCreykeBeck@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
or in writing to:
Major Applications & Plans, The Planning Inspectorate, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.
Please quote ‘Dogger Bank Creyke Beck’ on any correspondence. Any representations received by the Secretary of State in response to the consultation will be published on the Planning Inspectorate’s Infrastructure Planning Portal (https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/) with all personal information removed.
10. The deadline for receipt of representations is 23:59 on 23 May 2025.
Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 1 Projco Limited and Doggerbank Offshore Wind Farm Project 2 Projco Limited
