The Dudgeon offshore wind farm will start generating energy in early 2017, according to its developers.
Statkraft and Statoil have taken a final investment decision to move forward with construction of the £1.5 billion project off the coast of eastern England. They described their decision as a "significant step forward" for the UK offshore wind industry.
Construction will start with installation of the onshore cables and onshore substation, with offshore construction scheduled for 2016. The project will consist of 67 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW, installed 32 km from the north Norfolk coast.
Dudgeon is the first of eight renewable electricity projects that have been offered support under the UK government’s new Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. The investment decision taken by Statoil and Statkraft to proceed with Dudgeon marked the start of a "steady stream of investment in renewable electricity" underpinned by CfDs, said Energy Minister Michael Fallon.
Statoil and Statkraft together built the 317 MW Sheringham Shoal offshore wind farm, also located off the north Norfolk coast. Statkraft’s share in the Dudgeon project is 30 per cent.
The license for the Dudgeon site was awarded to Statoil and Statkraft by the UK government during the Round 2 allocation in 2003.
