Norway’s Equinor and Ireland’s SSE Renewables are exploring the development of a fourth phase of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm as part of a joint partnership between the two, Equinor announced in a press release Feb. 6. 

Dogger Bank Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm with 3.6 GW capacity in development off the coast of England. It is a joint venture partnership between developer SSE Renewables (40%), operator Equinor (40%), and Vårgrønn (20%), according to Equinor’s website. 

This next phase of development, called Dogger Bank D, would add another 1.32 GW capacity and double the existing acreage of Dogger Bank, which is already in development to be the world’s largest offshore wind farm and power six million UK homes with phases A, B and C. Phase D would be located in the eastern zone of the Dogger Bank C lease area. 

“Not only is this project a great opportunity to generate more affordable green energy for U.K. consumers and increase the resilience of our energy networks, said Oliver Cass, Dogger Bank Wind Farm project director, “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 U.K. jobs and resulted in more than £1 million being invested in coastal communities.”

An initial scoping report is scheduled for late March to determine where the energy generated by Dogger Bank D should be used – either as a potential grid connection or for green hydrogen production. 

Power from Dogger Bank D may be coupled to a grid connection in Lincolnshire, where new network infrastructure is being installed to hit U.K. ambitions to generate 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030. Or, the energy from the offshore wind may be used to produce electricity at an electrolysis facility with hydrogen transmission and storage infrastructure capabilities yet to be developed in the Humber, but if developed, would be the UK’s largest green hydrogen project. 

“Both the grid offtake and green hydrogen production options from Dogger Bank D would contribute to the U.K.’s net zero ambitions and emphasize Equinor’s ability to deliver a broad energy offering to the UK,” said Halfdan Brustad, vice president of Dogger Bank at Equinor.

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