Dogger Bank Wind Farm

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a large-scale offshore wind development located in the North Sea between roughly 130 km and 190 km off the north-east coast of England. It is being developed in three phases — Dogger Bank A, Dogger Bank B and Dogger Bank C — each with an installed generation capacity of 1.2 GW. Combined, the three phases will have 3.6 GW of installed capacity and are expected to be capable of powering around 6 million UK homes annually. The project is described by its developers as set to become the world's largest offshore wind farm. The wind farm is a joint venture partnership between SSE (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE is leading development and construction, while Equinor will operate the wind farm once complete, over an expected operational life of around 35 years. The project uses one of the world's most powerful turbines, GE's Haliade-X, and one of the largest installation vessels. The development has its origins in The Crown Estate's third offshore wind licensing round in 2008, which included the Dogger Bank Zone. The Forewind consortium — SSE, Equinor (then Statoil), Statkraft and innogy — identified four project areas, originally named Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B, Teesside A and Teesside B. All four received planning consent from the UK Government in 2015. In 2017, ownership was reorganised: SSE and Equinor agreed to progress three of the projects under the new name Dogger Bank Wind Farm, each holding 50%, to be built in three phases. All three phases succeeded in the UK Government's 2019 Contract for Difference (CfD) auction. The phases were renamed Dogger Bank A (formerly Creyke Beck A), Dogger Bank B (formerly Creyke Beck B) and Dogger Bank C (formerly Teesside A), reflecting the historic Doggerland area. Ownership evolved further when Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% stake in Dogger Bank A and B in February 2021, with SSE Renewables and Equinor each retaining 40%. In February 2022, Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% stake in Dogger Bank C, with SSE Renewables and Equinor maintaining their positions. The project also has a substantial community investment programme, including a £25 million commitment over the operational lifespan, STEM education programmes, a scholarship programme and an operators fund supporting local groups. Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a major piece of UK renewable energy infrastructure and a flagship project in the country's energy transition, connecting into the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire and the Teesside converter station.

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm project traces its origins to 2008, when The Crown Estate opened its third licence round for offshore wind, including the Dogger Bank Zone. Located between 125 and 290 km off the east coast of Yorkshire, the zone extended over approximately 8,660 km² and was the largest zone in that licence round, with water depths ranging from 18 to 63 metres. The Forewind consortium — a partnership between SSE, Equinor (then Statoil), Statkraft and innogy — identified four project areas within the zone to take to development consent, each with up to 1.2 GW of generation capacity. At the time, the projects were named Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B, Teesside A and Teesside B. During 2015, after around five years of assessment, development and engagement, all four project areas received planning consent from the UK Government. At the beginning of 2017, Equinor increased its share from Statkraft, and in August 2017 new ownership arrangements were confirmed: SSE and Equinor would progress the Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B and Teesside A projects under the new name Dogger Bank Wind Farm, with each partner holding 50% ownership, to be built in three phases. All three phases were successful in the UK Government's 2019 Contract for Difference (CfD) auction. To recognise their link to the historic Doggerland area, the three phases were renamed Dogger Bank A (formerly Creyke Beck A), Dogger Bank B (formerly Creyke Beck B) and Dogger Bank C (formerly Teesside A). In February 2021, Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% ownership of the Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B phases, with SSE Renewables and Equinor each retaining a 40% share. In February 2022, Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% ownership of Dogger Bank C, with SSE Renewables and Equinor maintaining their positions. The project is a joint venture partnership between SSE (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%). SSE is leading on the development and construction of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion and during its expected operational life of around 35 years. Dogger Bank A is located around 131 km from shore at its closest point and has a development area of around 515 km²; upon completion it will have an installed generation capacity of 1.2 GW. Dogger Bank B, the largest of the project phases with a development area of around 599 km², is also around 131 km from shore at its closest point and will also have an installed generation capacity of 1.2 GW. Dogger Bank A and B, with a combined generation capacity of 2.4 GW, will connect into the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The subsea export cables will make landfall to the north of Ulrome, and around 30 km of underground cables will take the electricity to two converter stations near Cottingham before passing through the adjacent Creyke Beck substation onto the National Grid. Dogger Bank C connects via the Teesside converter station. Collectively, the three phases will have an installed capacity of 3.6 GW and will be capable of powering around 6 million homes annually. The project uses one of the world's most powerful turbines, GE's Haliade-X, and one of the largest installation vessels. The wind farm is described as providing the UK's largest single source of renewable energy. Beyond generation, the project includes a community investment programme: a £25 million commitment during the operational lifespan, with £1 million already invested during construction, focusing on STEM education, a scholarship programme providing 30 further education scholarships per year, and an operators fund providing 75 grants per year of up to £1,000 to local community groups.

• 2022

  Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% ownership of Dogger Bank C; SSE Renewables and Equinor maintained their positions.

• 2021

  Eni Plenitude acquired a 20% ownership of Dogger Bank A and B; SSE Renewables and Equinor each retained 40%.

• 2019

  All three phases were successful in the UK Government's Contract for Difference (CfD) auction.

• 2017

  New ownership arrangements confirmed: SSE and Equinor to progress three projects under the name Dogger Bank Wind Farm, each holding 50%.

• 2015

  All four project areas (Creyke Beck A, Creyke Beck B, Teesside A, Teesside B) received planning consent from the UK Government.

• 2008

  The Crown Estate opened its third licence round for offshore wind, including the Dogger Bank Zone.

World's largest offshore wind farm, providing the UK's largest single source of renewable energy.

• Dogger Bank A

  First phase, located around 131 km from shore, development area around 515 km², installed capacity 1.2 GW.

• Dogger Bank B

  Largest phase by development area (around 599 km²), around 131 km from shore, installed capacity 1.2 GW.

• Dogger Bank C

  Third phase, installed capacity 1.2 GW, connects via Teesside converter station.

1. 1The World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm - Dogger Bank Wind Farmdoggerbank.com
2. 2Our History - Dogger Bank Wind Farmdoggerbank.com
3. 3About The Dogger Bank Wind Farm Projects - Dogger Bank Wind Farmdoggerbank.com
4. 4Dogger Bank in the community - Dogger Bank Wind Farmdoggerbank.com
5. 5DOGGERBANK OFFSHORE WIND FARM PROJECT 3 PROJCO LIMITEDwikidata.org