In a historic development, the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, with a colossal capacity of 3.6GW, has commenced its first electricity production. Situated 70 nautical miles off the Yorkshire coast in the UK, this ambitious project is being executed in three phases known as Dogger Bank A, B, and C. Notably, this marks the debut of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology in a UK wind farm, as power from the initial offshore wind turbine at Dogger Bank A is seamlessly transmitted to the national grid.
This momentous achievement follows the installation of the world-renowned GE Vernova's Haliade-X 13MW turbines, among the largest and most potent offshore wind turbines globally, at the Dogger Bank site. It is worth noting that this represents the first time Haliade-X units have been energized offshore anywhere in the world.
The impressive scale of the Dogger Bank project becomes evident as each rotation of the massive 107-meter long blades on its inaugural operational turbine generates enough clean energy to power an average British home for two days. Upon its full completion, this world-record-breaking wind farm will boast 277 colossal offshore turbines, capable of supplying clean energy equivalent to powering six million homes annually.
Crucially, Dogger Bank is a collaborative effort, developed and constructed by SSE Renewables in partnership with Norway's Equinor and Vårgrønn, a joint venture of Eni Plenitude and HitecVision. SSE Renewables leads the operation and construction phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, while Equinor is poised to be the lead operator for the wind farm during its expected operational life of approximately 35 years.
Alistair Phillips-Davies, the CEO of SSE, emphasized the significance of Dogger Bank in enhancing UK energy security, affordability, and climate change mitigation. He underlined the project as a substantial response to the energy crisis while lauding the collaborative efforts that brought this pioneering endeavor to fruition.
Anders Opedal, the CEO of Equinor, stressed the project's contribution to the UK's offshore wind ambitions and its role in supporting the nation's net-zero goals. He praised Dogger Bank as a renewable mega-project with the potential for long-term job creation, economic growth, and enhanced electricity supply security.
Olav Hetland, the CEO of Vårgrønn, celebrated Dogger Bank's first power milestone as a testament to offshore wind's readiness to propel Europe's energy transition. He highlighted the broader socio-economic benefits, including job creation and local industry development, that such projects bring to the regions they serve.
