Planning approval for offshore wind energy at Dogger Bank takes the total of consented projects in the North Sea zone to 4.8 Gw, almost equal to all the offshore wind capacity now in operation in the UK.
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| Image: Dogger Bank Teesside A&B computer model/Dogger Bank |
The consented development, Dogger Bank Teesside A&B is part of the Dogger Bank Zone, the largest of the Round 3 zones and the farthest from shore, but also one of the shallowest, with high wind speeds and seabed conditions ideally suited to offshore wind development.
The consent is offshore wind consortium Forewind’s second approval following that of Dogger Bank Creyke Beck in February. Both consented developments have a proposed installed capacity of 2.4 Gw making them the equal largest renewable energy applications ever to be approved in the UK, and together the world’s biggest planned offshore wind scheme.
Amber Rudd, secretary of state for energy and climate change, approved the application for Dogger Bank Teesside A&B, submitted to the planning inspectorate by Forewind in March 2014.
The consent approval of the 2.4 Gw Dogger Bank Teesside A&B development allows for two separate 1.2 Gw projects, each with up to 200 turbines installed across an area of around 600sq km and located 165km from the UK coast at the closest point.
The Dogger Bank Teesside A&B consent approval is the result of more than four years of comprehensive assessments, community and stakeholder consultation, and planning by the consortium, owned equally by the four international energy companies – RWE, SSE, Statkraft and Statoil. This work included the most extensive study of an offshore area ever undertaken by a wind energy developer, with more than US$93.5 million (£60 million) spent on surveys, the vast majority going to UK-based contractors.
The power from Dogger Bank Teesside A&B will come to shore between Redcar and Marske-by-the–Sea, in Teesside and the 9km onshore cable will connect into the national grid at the existing Lackenby Substation, adjacent to the Wilton International industrial complex.
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| Image: map of Dogger Bank Teesside A&B/ Dogger Bank |
When constructed, Dogger Bank Teesside A&B will be one of UK’s largest power generators, equal to Dogger Bank Creyke Beck and second only to the 3.9 Gw Drax coal-fired station in North Yorkshire.
According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the generator would be capable of generating 8 terrawatt hours (TWh) of green energy per annum, which is more than enough to power all the commercial and industrial consumers in the North East every year and equal to the amount used annually by approximately two million British homes.
Forewind general manager, Tarald Gjerde said that the planning approval has been achieved following extensive consultation with interested parties and a rigorous governmental review. Combined with the positive seabed survey results and strong wind measurements, the consent confirms Dogger Bank’s suitability for large-scale offshore wind development. The approval paves the way for the phased delivery of wind projects across Dogger Bank.
Dogger Bank Teesside A&B could create up to 4750 new direct and indirect full time equivalent jobs and generate more than $23.4 billion (£1.5 billion) for the UK economy, with the majority of opportunities in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber regions.
As part of the consent process a final six-week legal challenge period will now be undertaken.
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