Dogger Bank D is a proposed offshore wind farm in the UK North Sea, designed to have a production capacity of up to 2GW. The project is being developed by SSE Renewables, a UK-based renewable energy company, and Equinor, with both companies holding an equal 50% stake as joint venture partners.
Announced in February 2023, Dogger Bank D aims to serve as the potential fourth phase of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, which will generate 3.6GW via three build-out phases, Dogger Bank A, B and C.
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In June 2024, the developers submitted a scoping report for the project to the UK Planning Inspectorate, which provided its feedback in August 2024.
Construction of the Dogger Bank D wind farm is anticipated to begin in 2029 at the earliest, with completion expected by 2035.
Once operational, Dogger Bank D is set to play a vital role in advancing the UK’s transition to a clean, renewable energy system.
Dogger Bank D Location
The Dogger Bank D Wind Farm is planned for development within the Dogger Bank D (DBD) Array Area, located approximately 201km off the northeast coast of the UK, near Yorkshire.
The project site is situated to the east of the existing Dogger Bank C Offshore Wind Farm and spans an area of roughly 262km².
Water depths in the project area range between 21 and 35m below the Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT).
Dogger Bank D will connect to the proposed Birkhill Wood substation, a new 400kV facility to be constructed in East Riding of Yorkshire as part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade initiative.
Offshore Infrastructure Details
The offshore infrastructure of the Dogger Bank D Wind Farm will include up to 122 wind turbines, with each with a maximum rotor diameter of 337m and a rated capacity of 14-27MW.
The turbines will be mounted on foundations with optional scour protection, with foundation types including monopile, piled jacket, and suction bucket jacket designs.
The turbines will connect to up to three offshore platforms, which will also be installed on various foundation types: monopile, piled jacket, suction bucket jacket, elevator platform, or gravity base. These platform foundations may also feature scour protection.
The platform foundations will also have the option to be protected by scour. The inter-array cables of up to approximately 400km in length will connect turbines and offshore platforms.
A maximum of four offshore export cables will export High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) from the offshore platforms to the landfall area. The landfall trenchless compound will be approximately 125X125m.
At the landfall area, there will be a maximum of four exit pits and three Transition Joint Bays (TJBs).
Onshore Infrastructure Details
The onshore infrastructure for the Dogger Bank D Wind Farm will include up to four onshore export cables, each with a maximum length of approximately 67km. These cables will connect the landfall area to the onshore converter substation via up to 60km (maximum) of HVDC cables.
Spanning 27 hectares, the onshore substation will convert HVDC power from the offshore infrastructure into High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC). The converted power will then be transmitted to the Birkhill Wood Substation via approximately 7km (maximum) of HVAC cables.
The grid connection at Birkhill Wood Substation was finalised in February 2024 through an agreement between the project joint venture and the UK National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). Once operational, Birkhill Wood Substation will deliver clean energy to homes across the UK.
Dogger Bank D Wind Farm Contractors
Royal HaskoningDHV, a Dutch engineering consultancy, was commissioned to prepare the scoping report for the Dogger Bank D Wind Farm. This report was submitted by SSE Renewables and Equinor in June 2024.
Enviros, a UK-based independent consultancy, was selected by the SSE Renewables and Equinor joint venture to conduct geophysical surveys at the project site.
In December 2023, the joint venture appointed Genesis, an energy advisory services provider, to evaluate large-scale green hydrogen development at Dogger Bank D. Genesis was tasked with delivering an engineering design study and a technology-agnostic concept under the contract.
For green hydrogen offtake optimisation, H2GO Power, a hydrogen energy tech startup, and Fichtner Consulting Engineers, an independent energy consultancy, were awarded contracts in December 2023. However, these contracts were cancelled by the joint venture in March 2024.
Brown & May Marine, an offshore fishing surveys and studies conducting company, is the fisheries consultant for the project.
