A further 1.3GW offshore wind farm is being proposed off the East Coast - with the potential to power green hydrogen production on the Humber.
Energy companies Equinor and SSE are behind the early scoping work to look at a fourth phase of Dogger Bank, one of the world’s leading zones. The plan is to connect to the grid off Lincolnshire, where new network infrastructure is being installed, or to feed into a clena fuel plant on the estuary, where the two companies are already collaborating on a series of decarbonisation projects.
Scores more jobs would be created in operations and maintenance, building on the hundreds set to be created in the North East, with Port of Tyne the location serving the zone.
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Vice president for Dogger Bank at Equinor, Halfdan Brustad, said: “Optimising the Dogger Bank C lease area with an additional phase, Dogger Bank D, is in-line with Equinor’s strategy to further develop offshore wind projects in clusters such as the North Sea. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with our partners, SSE Renewables, and work together to mature the technical scoping of this project. Both the grid offtake and green hydrogen production options from Dogger Bank D would contribute to the UK’s net zero ambitions and emphasise Equinor’s ability to deliver a broad energy offering to the UK.”
The companies each own a 50 per cent stake. It would require a new development consent order to progress, as well as a lease agreement from the Crown Estate, with round four deals having just been completed. It is in addition to the Dogger Bank South dual farm brought forward by RWE, that was part of that agreement.
Paul Cooley, director of offshore wind at SSE Renewables, said: “We’re focussed on delivering and building a homegrown energy system for the UK that is cheaper, cleaner and more secure. That’s why we’re taking action to develop more of the new offshore wind energy needed to radically increase renewable generation. We’re already building the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank, and now with our established partners Equinor we’re delighted to unveil plans to develop a potential fourth phase of the project, Dogger Bank D. We’re looking forward to working together to bring this project to the attention of key stakeholders.”
The developers will release an initial scoping report in late March outlining ongoing work to explore the technical feasibility of deploying latest-available technology to bolster the UK’s renewable energy capacity.
They said a dedicated electrolysis facility in the Humber region, if developed, could become the UK’s largest green hydrogen project and - subject to supportive Government policy and supply chain alignment - could contribute to the UK Government’s green hydrogen ambitions.
Dogger Bank wind farm project director, Oliver Cass, said: “We’re in the early stages of looking at the technical feasibility of the grid and also hydrogen options for a potential fourth phase of Dogger Bank Wind Farm, and we’re looking forward to working with local, national and regional stakeholders over the coming months as we progress the project.
“Not only is this project a great opportunity to generate more affordable green energy for UK consumers and increase the resilience of our energy networks, it would also build on the economic and social legacy started by the first phases of the project which have created and supported thousands of UK jobs and resulted in more than £1 million being invested in coastal communities.”
The first three phases of Dogger Bank Wind Farm known as A, B and C are located more than 130 km off the Yorkshire coast and will generate enough renewable energy to power six million UK homes. Operations and maintenance is at Port of Tyne. A joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn - a collaboration between Italian energy company Plenitude and Norwegian energy investor HitecVision - SSE Renewables is leading on construction and delivery while Equinor will operate the wind farm on completion.
Equinor and SSE Thermal are currently working together to accelerate the decarbonisation of the Humber, the UK’s largest and most carbon-intensive industrial region, through low-carbon projects such as Keadby Three Carbon Capture Power Station, Keadby Hydrogen Power Station, the conversion of Saltend Power Station to hydrogen-firing and Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage - with production also being looked at there.
As part of the Zero Carbon Humber initiative, in which Equinor and SSE Thermal are both members, hydrogen transmission and storage infrastructure is planned in the Humber linked to the East Coast Cluster carbon capture transport and storage system.
The team said the green hydrogen option at Dogger Bank D could benefit from it.
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