The UK's energy regulator, Ofgem, took a significant step towards the development of renewable energy infrastructure with the launch of a tender process on Wednesday to appoint an Offshore Transmission Owner (OFTO) for the 1.2-GW Dogger Bank B Offshore Wind Farm project.
The tender process, known as Tender Round 11 (TR11), commences with an Enhanced Pre-Qualification (EPQ) Stage, accompanied by the publication of detailed requirements for prospective bidders.
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Interested parties must submit their EPQ bids by May 1, with up to eight qualifying bidders expected to advance to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage, scheduled to launch in July/August. The announcement of a preferred bidder is anticipated in January 2025.
In accordance with the tender document, the initial transfer value for the project stands at GBP 919.3 million (USD 1.16 billion/EUR 1.08 billion), based on information provided by the project developer, a consortium comprising SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vargronn. Notably, the developer assumes responsibility for the construction of both generation and transmission assets.
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Ofgem's involvement in the tender process underscores its longstanding commitment to facilitating the connection of offshore wind farms to the mainland grid. Since 2009, the regulator has overseen tenders to select and license OFTOs responsible for owning and operating these crucial transmission assets.
Dogger Bank B constitutes a pivotal phase within the larger Dogger Bank Wind Farm project, which boasts a total capacity of 3.6 GW. Both Dogger Bank A and B will link to the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire, contributing to the UK's ambitious renewable energy targets and bolstering its position as a global leader in offshore wind energy deployment.
