SSE Renewables has cautioned about possible setbacks in the completion timeline for the Dogger Bank A wind farm, situated off the coast of eastern England. The developer cited various factors such as adverse weather conditions, challenges in the supply chain, and constraints in vessel availability, all of which have hindered progress at the North Sea site. Originally slated for full operations by the end of this year, the project's schedule now faces potential postponement to 2025.
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The initial plan aimed for the installation of 95 GE Haliade-X turbines by the second quarter of this year. However, as of the latest update, only seven turbines have been successfully erected since the project commenced last July. This deviation from the original timeline represents a significant departure from the expectations outlined by the project partners, which include Equinor and Vargronn.
Earlier reports from subscriber-only outlet reNEWS disclosed the challenges encountered, including adverse weather conditions, delays in manufacturing, and the utilization of new equipment in offshore waters exceeding 120km from the shore. These issues had already prompted a revision in the installed capacity target from 790MW to a mere 25MW by the third quarter of 2024.
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SSE Renewables stated that a potential extension into 2025 is unlikely to substantially impact the financial returns from the AR3 project. The company is actively collaborating with its supply chain partners to enhance turbine installation rates. Further updates on the project's progress are anticipated to be provided in May alongside the publication of the FY24 results.
