DOGGER BANK WIND FARM: Dogger Bank to Supply 5% of UK Electricity Demand

The world’s largest. Not many can claim it. Not many would try it. But to change things for the better, you have to be ambitious.

The Burj Khalifa, the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, the Titanic, the Bagger 288 – icons of human development, demonstrating what is possible when you push boundaries.

In the UK North Sea, the Mount Everest of offshore wind farms is taking shape, rising from the seabed as a beacon of hope for cleaner energy production – an ambitious advancement of what would have once been viewed as impossible.

The Dogger Bank offshore wind farm will be the world’s largest, capable of producing 3.6GW of electricity. This is enough clean, green power for six million UK homes. It will be iconic in the UK’s journey towards carbon neutrality.

The three-phase project: Dogger Bank A and B is the vision of SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Eni (20%), with the final phase C a 50:50 JV between SSE Renewables and Equinor. Each phase will bring 1.2GW from plan to reality and as the UK transitions further away from fossil fuel electricity generation, projects like Dogger Bank will act as catalysts for change.

The 8660 km² development site – formerly a land mass connecting the UK and Europe before being flooded by rising sea levels between 5000 and 8000 years ago – sits between 125 and 290 km off the east coast of Yorkshire, in tough conditions ranging from 18 to 63 metres water depth. For each of the three phases, two offshore HVDC cables will export power to onshore converter stations where clean electricity will be added to the UK national grid as the UK’s first HVDC-connected wind farm. It’s a mammoth task which has taken more than a decade of meticulous planning to date.

In 2020 construction began – and then the full force of the global pandemic began to filter through international markets. How do you build the world’s largest offshore wind farm while one of history’s worst disasters plays out?

Steve Wilson, SSE Renewables Project Director for Dogger Bank Wind Farm, tells Energy Focus that the pandemic has added to what was already an extremely challenging development.

“2020 might not have been the year we all wanted or expected it to be, but for SSE Renewables and Equinor it was the year we safely started and financed a project that promises to change the face of the global offshore wind sector, and open up a new world of cutting-edge energy generation on UK soil.

“Construction work commenced on Dogger Bank Wind Farm in early 2020, when we broke ground at the start of an unprecedented and unexpected year. Despite the challenges thrown up by the global pandemic, the project remains on track and I’m pleased to say we’ve been able to achieve our first major milestones safely, and on time. The safety of our communities and those working on our sites remains of paramount importance to us as we move through 2021.

“Work on the first two phases of the development is set to gain further momentum as we head into Spring. And with all tier one contractors now appointed for Dogger Bank A and B, our focus is now on finalising our tier one supply chain for the third phase of the development, Dogger Bank C. Over the next 10 months we’ll be starting work on our onshore converter stations in East Yorkshire, and the first onshore cables will be installed along our East Riding cable route.

“To say Dogger Bank Wind Farm is pushing technology boundaries in offshore wind is an understatement. Not only is it the world’s largest offshore wind farm, it will be the first to use GE Renewable Energy’s record-breaking 13MW and 14MW Haliade-X turbines, the first HVDC connected windfarm in the UK, and the first HVDC facility breaking 1GW line by installing 1.2GW, a tremendous scale up from the latest installation of 0.8GW. A HVDC connection will ensure that the renewable energy being transmitted over the long distances from the Dogger Bank offshore to the onshore grid connections in East Riding and Teesside, will be achieved efficiently whilst minimising losses,” he says.

SHEER SCALE

As construction activity continues to gather pace, smaller projects are being announced to support the overall vision.

In March, designs for a new multi-million-pound Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Base at the Port of Tyne were released. When complete, the base will be home to all onshore operational staff and will become a base for offshore technicians. There will also be a quayside support unit for state-of-the-art Service Operations Vessels to arrive, exchange crew and upgrade. Eventually, the base will be home to 200 staff as full operations are rolled out. Equinor will operate the wind farm for its entire life-time.

“Dogger Bank is set to have a huge impact in the North East of England. On top of the hundreds of direct jobs the project creates, opportunities from the project will reach many others in the region from industry suppliers to catering companies,” says Halfdan Brustad, Vice President for Dogger Bank at Equinor.

“In addition to UK supplier opportunities during construction, there will also be substantial local jobs and supply chain opportunities in the operations and maintenance phase of the wind farm,” Halfdan continued.

Localisation is key for the UK wind sector and the country’s transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy. In October 2020, Boris Johnson stated that offshore wind farms could generate enough electricity to power every home in the UK by 2030, feeding into the country’s net zero ambitions for 2050. This idea would create more than 2000 construction jobs and 60,000 ongoing support roles across a range of companies in the private and public sector. Aiming for 40GW in the next nine years, local supplier and localisation of skills and expertise will be vital for sustainability.

“We’re fully committed to supporting the development of a sustainable UK supply chain as we continue to establish our full supply chain across the three 1.2GW phases,” says Wilson. “We are working hard with suppliers to maximise UK supply chain opportunities where these meet project requirements, while taking into consideration some of the challenges associated with the availability of components and services from the UK for a project of this scale. In September, we announced a collaboration with GE Renewable Energy which is set to create 120 new jobs at its turbine marshalling harbour, Able Seaton Port.

“Our local communities are also set to benefit from the project, with work underway to develop a skills-focused community benefit programme right on their doorstep. We’re financially supporting the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership with funding to develop the UK supply chain, and we will be a significant contributor to the Coastal Communities Fund once the wind farm is operational,” he adds.

FLAGSHIP FOR UK

In December 2020, Prime Minister Johnson was onsite in Northumberland, describing the work behind the scenes as vitally important for economic recovery and significant for job creation efforts in the region. Eventually able to supply 5% of the UKs demand, the size of the project is a demonstration to the rest of the industry, country and the world of exactly what is possible.

 “The scale and innovation involved in building this futuristic wind farm present challenges which in many instances are unique to the industry. But, after more than 12 months of exceptional delivery, we’re confident in the experience and capability of our team in rising to this challenge,” says Wilson.

Progress continues to involve not just UK suppliers but big-name offshore contractors from all over the world. In April, it was announced that Norway’s VARD would supply designs for three Service Operation Vessels for Scotland’s North Star Renewables to use solely on the Dogger Bank project. North Star gained a £270 million contract to deliver the three vessels from 2023, creating significant local employment.

Dutch contractor, Bakker Magnetics was awarded a contract by GE Renewable Energy to supply magnetic modules used in the massive 135m high, 107m long turbines. The company received a €3.9 million loan to expand its manufacturing facilities in Eindhoven.

The Haliade-X turbines, provided by GE Renewable Energy, will be able to supply more than two days of electricity for an average UK home following just one single rotation. The project will be the first to use this new iteration of turbine in a step change for the efficiency of offshore wind farm production. But installing infrastructure of such size takes a new approach. Blades manufactured at a new facility in Teesside, put up by LM Wind Power (a GE Renewable Energy subsidiary), will be moved offshore to the Voltaire, a brand-new jack-up installation vessel from Jan de Nul capable of lifting 3000 tonnes.

OHT will utilise the Alfa Lift vessel to support installation of the foundations in 2021. The super-sized vessel has a 3000-tonne main crane and a 10,000 m² smart deck which can carry 14 XL monopiles or 12 jackets on each voyage. Currently under construction, Alfa Lift is another record breaker which highlights the scale of Dogger Bank.

“And it’s not just on the technology front where we’re breaking records,” insists Wilson, “because in late 2020 we announced a £5.5 billion project financing of the first two phases of the development, which was the largest offshore wind project financing ever. The high level of interest we received from lenders wanting to be part of the project demonstrates the solid business case and the progress we’ve already made. In December, we were proud to win Project Finance International’s Global Green Deal of the Year award. We’ve now warmly welcomed Eni to the Dogger Bank team as a shareholder in the first two phases and look forward to working with them on our ground-breaking venture.”

During 2020, with the pandemic raging, the UK still managed to see offshore wind sector investment grow by 70%. Europe invested €43 billion into wind projects in 2020 with the hope of bringing about 20GW of extra capacity. However, there is some suggestion that more is needed with critics saying 27GW of new wind energy is needed annually if the EU is to meet its target of a 55% emissions reduction. With big name majors, traditionally active in oil and gas, now joining the wind revolution it will not be long before funding moves in even bigger numbers.

Halfdan Brustad says: “This wind farm is more than just the world’s biggest. We’re using the latest turbine technology, innovative foundation and substation design, and utilising our offshore experience to introduce new methods of transmission to the UK that will benefit other large wind farms in the future. The project represents a game-changer globally for offshore wind and supports Equinor’s strategy of accelerated growth in renewables.

“The development of Dogger Bank will create 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 the net zero ambition. Excellent wind speeds, shallow waters, synergies and scale make Dogger Bank well positioned to deliver low-cost renewable electricity to UK homes and businesses.”

Between 2020 and 2026, it is expected that £9 billion in total capital investment will be ploughed into the Dogger Bank projects. For Steve Wilson, the long-term benefits are clear and necessary, and the colossal size of the project is helping to drive everything.  

“When the project is fully operational in 2026, it will be capable of producing enough renewable energy for six million UK households, or 5% of the UK’s electricity requirements. We welcome the UK Government’s increased ambitions to power every home in the UK with offshore wind over the next decade as the industry creates long-term jobs, and provides a real opportunity to emerge from the pandemic with a greener future,” he concludes.