The UK is celebrating a major energy security milestone as Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, produces first power for Britain’s national grid.
The 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being built over three stages in UK waters, 130km off the coast of Yorkshire and in the UK’s North Sea. The project comprises three 1.2GW phases known as Dogger Bank A, B and C.
Related article: World’s largest offshore wind farm officially opens
The first turbine at Dogger Bank A has started turning and producing electricity. Power from the offshore wind farm is now being transmitted to the UK’s national grid via Dogger Bank’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system, marking the first-time use of HVDC technology on a UK wind farm.
First power followed the installation of the first of GE Vernova’s Haliade-X 13MW turbines, one of the largest and most powerful globally, at the Dogger Bank site. This is the first time Haliade-X units have been energised offshore anywhere in the world. Each rotation of the 107m long blades can produce enough energy to power an average British home for two days.
Equinor, as lead operator during the operational phase of the wind farm, will maintain and operate Dogger Bank over its expected 35-year lifetime. Operations and maintenance will be carried out from the recently opened O&M base at the Port of Tyne.
When complete, Dogger Bank Wind Farm will occupy an area almost as large as Greater London and nearly twice the size of New York City. The first power milestone marks the first of what will eventually be 277, 260-meter-tall turbines providing power from the project. Each of these turbines will be progressively installed and commissioned between now and planned full commercial operation in 2026.
When complete, Dogger Bank will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm, more than two and a half times the size of the largest offshore wind farm currently in operation.
Equinor CEO Anders Opedal said, “Set against the broader energy context, Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm demonstrates the best of what the offshore wind industry can offer, with innovative technologies, long-term jobs and economic growth and security of electricity supply at a major scale.
“A renewable mega-project like Dogger Bank constitutes an industrial wind hub in the heart of the North Sea, playing a major role in the UK’s ambitions for offshore wind and supporting its net zero ambitions.”
Related article: Equinor and Nexsphere to explore offshore wind in Tasmania
“First power from Dogger Bank is a testament to the collaboration between the authorities, the project partners, suppliers and our host communities to realise this project.”
Equinor has partnered with Oceanex to pursue floating offshore wind opportunities in New South Wales, including the Novocastrian Offshore Wind Farm in the Hunter. Equinor has also partnered with Nexsphere to progress the Bass Offshore Wind Energy project in the Bass Strait, Tasmania.
