The 3.6 GW Dogger Bank wind farm has started producing electricity for the first time, marking a major milestone in the evolution of the offshore wind industry.
The project is being constructed in U.K. waters 70 nautical miles off the coast of Yorkshire and in three 1.2 GW phases known as Dogger Bank A, B and C. Power from the project’s first offshore wind turbine at Dogger Bank A is now being transmitted to the U.K.’s national grid via high-voltage direct current transmission infrastructure, marking the first-time use of HVDC technology on a U.K. 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. This is the first time Haliade-X units have been energized offshore anywhere in the world.
Each rotation of the 107-meter blades produces enough energy to power an average home for two days.
When fully complete, Dogger Bank will comprise 277 turbines.
The project is being developed and built by SSE Renewables in a joint venture with Equinor and Vårgrønn (a joint venture of Eni Plenitude and HitecVision). SSE Renewables is the development and construction lead, while Equinor will be lead operator on completion for its expected operational life of around 35 years.
