SSE Renewables and Equinor’s 2GW Dogger Bank D will connect to the UK’s grid at Birkhill Wood as part of a proposed new 400kV substation located in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The announcement follows the publication of an impact assessment for the South Cluster by ESO, relating to energy projects which are due to be electrically connected off the east coast of England.
With the location of a grid connection confirmed, Dogger Bank D will now focus its full attention on connecting to the electrical transmission system.
The substation will be built as part of National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade.
The project is also exploring the future possibility of the development of Dogger Bank D to be coordinated with an Offshore Hybrid Asset between the UK and another European country’s electricity market to form a multi-purpose interconnector. This option would increase energy security for the UK and reduce the need to curtail offshore wind output in times of oversupply on the GB network.
The project team is undertaking a site selection process to identify potential cable corridors and where other onshore infrastructure associated with the grid connection at Birkhill Wood may be sited. A consultation will be held later this year to introduce the connection proposals to the local community.
With the confirmation of an onshore grid connection location in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the option to direct the wind energy produced by the wind farm towards hydrogen production, as publicly consulted on in autumn 2023, has been retired from the project.
Dogger Bank D project manager Rob Cussons said: “Dogger Bank D welcomes this confirmation which supports our ambition to develop this proposed offshore wind farm.
“Dogger Bank D promises to build on the legacy we are creating through the earlier phases of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, during which we are working hard to deliver safe and respectful construction both offshore and onshore, as well as generating socio-economic value for current and future generations.
“We look forward to continuing these high standards for project development and working with our stakeholders to plan and deliver a sustainable and secure energy system.”