Extensions to the existing Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind farms have been chosen as “Pathfinder” projects to deliver early benefits on better coordinated offshore transmission systems.
UK Energy, Clean Growth and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands has confirmed that Equinor’s Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm Extension Projects (SEP and DEP) have been selected to progress as a ‘Pathfinder’ under the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR).
Hands said: “The concept of ‘Pathfinder’ projects was created for such projects that are leading the way in utilising the enabling regulatory and policy changes being developed by project partners to meet the OTNR objectives.
“Having reviewed Equinor’s SEP and DEP proposal, I am encouraged by the degree of coordination being pursued and look forward to applying the learnings from delivering this project to the wider OTNR.”
The OTNR process is designed to develop an increasingly coordinated offshore transmission network to minimise the impacts to the community and the environment, reduce costs, and support the acceleration of offshore wind deployment, in line with the British Energy Security Strategy ambitions for 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
The Holistic Network Design (HND), released today, was developed as part of National Grid ESO’s role in the OTNR, launched by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in July 2020.
Pathfinder projects are identified as projects that have the potential to deliver benefits on better coordinated offshore transmission systems in the near-term and provide important learnings for the other parts of the OTNR process.
Having been identified as a Pathfinder project, SEP and DEP will continue to engage with BEIS and its other OTNR partners to address regulatory and policy challenges related to delivering this combined approach, while progressing with project development.
Kari Hege Mørk, Equinor’s Project Director for SEP and DEP, said: “Equinor has prioritised minimising impacts to the community and environment in Norfolk throughout the project development of SEP and DEP, so we are proud that our combined projects are confirmed as a ‘Pathfinder’ under the OTNR process.
“We welcome the continued collaboration with the Minister, BEIS and other OTNR partners as we continue to mature SEP and DEP, with the ultimate goal of supporting the development of an offshore transmission network that is fit for 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.”