Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm Powers Up in the UK

Statoil’s 402MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm near Great Yarmouth, England. Photo: Statoil

The Dudgeon offshore wind farm has started delivering electricity to the UK power grid, providing renewable energy to around 410,000 homes.

Statoil and its partners Masdar and Statkraft officially opened the Dudgeon wind farm on Wednesday in Great Yarmouth, England.

Dudgeon is made up of 67 turbines with a combined output of 402MW, and is located 40 kilometers off the coast of Norfolk in England.

“Dudgeon represents an important contribution to realizing the UK’s renewable energy strategy. The UK has already achieved impressive reductions in CO2-emissions with clear policies to phase out coal, and last year achieved the lowest CO2 emissions since before year 1900. Statoil is proud to contribute to this both by being a large supplier of natural gas and by our investments in offshore wind,” said Statoil’s CEO Eldar Sætre.

A view of Statoil’s Dudgeon offshore wind farm near Great Yarmouth, Britain November 22, 2017. REUTERS/Darren Staples

Statoil says the project is important part of its strategy to diversify its energy portfolio to include more renewables.

“As part of our strategy to develop from an oil and gas company to a broad energy major, Statoil will grow significantly in profitable renewable energy, with an ambition to invest around NOK 100 billion towards 2030. Dudgeon has successfully been developed in cooperation with Masdar and Statkraft, and is a key part of Statoil’s strategy to complement our oil and gas portfolio with profitable renewable energy solutions, as well as adding to Statoil’s strong UK presence,” said Sætre.

Statoil also notes that since the investment decision on Dudgeon was made in 2014, construction costs have been reduced by more than 15%, from GBP 1.5 billion to approximately GBP 1.25 billion. As operator of both Dudgeon and the nearby Sheringham Shoal wind farm, Statoil says it has been able to improve efficiency further and increase collaboration between projects.

“Over recent years Statoil has worked hard to reduce costs, improve efficiency and increase profitability in both our oil and gas projects and our renewable projects. Reducing costs by more than 15%, or GBP 250 million, at Dudgeon and completing the construction phase without any serious incidents is a great achievement by all three partners,” said Statoil’s executive vice president for Technology, projects and drilling, Margareth Øvrum.