Planning permission has been awarded for the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project to be developed by the Forewind consortium, comprising SSE, RWE, Statoil and Statkraft.
More than twice the size of the UK’s current biggest offshore windfarm and located 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast, the project is an example of the rapid developments taking place in the offshore wind industry.
The average distance to shore for offshore wind farms constructed in 2014 was just 21 miles – a far cry from the 80 miles distance approved for the Dogger Bank project. As projects such as the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck windfarm continue to move into deeper waters, taking advantage of the preferable wind conditions and reduced visual impact in these areas, offshore technologies capable of making the most of these conditions are of ever-increasing interest to the industry.
Nick Medic, director of offshore renewables at RenewableUK: “Dogger Bank demonstrates the sheer potential of offshore technology to turn our vast ocean and wind resources into green energy. It is a project that pushes the offshore engineering envelope, demonstrating how far this technology has evolved in the 10 short years since the first major offshore windfarm was installed in North Hoyle just five miles from shore.”
It is as yet unknown which foundation typologies and turbine models will be employed for this project. The announcement of the project’s approval is undoubtedly an exciting prospect for the designers and manufacturers of deeper water solutions, as well as for the benefits it will bring to the local economy and the UK’s renewable energy portfolio.
Ed Davey, energy and climate change secretary in response to the approval of the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Project: “Making the most of Britain’s home-grown energy is creating jobs and businesses in the UK, getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports. Wind power is vital to this plan, with £14.5bn invested since 2010 into an industry which supports 35,400 jobs.”
Representatives from SSE, Statoil and Statkraft – three of the four members of the Forewind consortium who are developing the Dogger Bank project - will be attending the Offshore Wind Structures conference 14-15th April in London, alongside other experts in the developing technologies of the offshore wind industry.
Offshore Wind Structures will bring together the leading conceptors of new foundation typologies, experts in structural design and integrity, manufacturers of the largest offshore wind turbines, logistical and financial expertise and developers with the most immediate and relevant experience, to assist attendees in making the best decisions regarding technology for their offshore wind projects.
For more information about the exciting sessions and speakers attending Offshore Wind Structures, contact Amy at amy@windenergyupdate.com
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