World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Produces First Power

Norwegian energy major Equinor has announced the first power production from the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank.

The offshore wind farm is now connected to Britain’s national grid, supplying electricity to British homes and businesses for the first time. The successful power generation marks a major step forward in the development of the industry and the transition to a cleaner and more secure energy system.

Located 70 nautical miles (130km) off the coast of Yorkshire in UK waters, Dogger Bank Wind Farm is being constructed in three phases known as Dogger Bank A, B, and C, with a total capacity of 3.6 GW.

The first turbine at Dogger Bank A has started turning and producing electricity. Power generation kicked off with the first GE Vernova’s Haliade-X 13 MW turbine, one of the largest and most powerful globally. Each rotation of the 107m long blades can produce enough energy to power an average British home for two days. Notably, this wind farm utilizes high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology, a first for a UK wind farm.

Equinor, as the lead operator, will maintain and operate Dogger Bank over its expected 35-year lifetime from the recently opened O&M base at the Port of Tyne. This operation and maintenance facility will create around 400 jobs, supporting the wind farm and involving collaboration between Equinor, GE Vernova, and North Star.

Once fully complete, Dogger Bank will consist of 277 offshore turbines, occupying an area nearly twice the size of New York City, and will have a capacity to power approximately six million British homes annually.

The first power milestone achieved by Dogger Bank sets the stage for the installation and commissioning of the remaining 276 turbines, with the aim of achieving full commercial operation in 2026. The project is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Equinor, SSE Renewables, and Vårgrønn, who are jointly developing and building Dogger Bank.

Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor, highlighted the significance of Dogger Bank in the offshore wind industry. “A renewable mega-project like Dogger Bank constitutes an industrial wind hub in the heart of the North Sea, playing a major role in the UK’s ambitions for offshore wind and supporting its net zero ambitions,” said Opedal.

Dogger Bank’s achievements extend beyond power generation. The project has introduced innovative supply chain delivery methods, including the use of GE Vernova’s Haliade-X turbine technology and the deployment of the world’s first unmanned offshore HVDC substation platform. The project also marks the first use of Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light® transmission system.

With the successful production of first power, Dogger Bank sets a new benchmark for offshore wind farms worldwide.

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