The developer consortium behind the 1500MW Outer Dowsing offshore wind project off the UK’s east coast has confirmed it will no longer pursue the Lincolnshire Node connection.
The joint venture between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation (a wholly-owned Green Investment Group portfolio company) and Gulf Energy Developments, announced this decision after a follow up appraisal by National Grid ESO.
The developer will continue development activities at the remaining two potential study areas for the substation location, one in the Surfleet Marsh area (previously referred to as Weston Marsh North) and one in the Weston Marsh area (previously referred to as Weston Marsh South).
The assessment methodology used by National Grid ESO considered the four network design objectives used within the Holistic Network Design analysis: economic and efficient, deliverable and operable, minimise environmental impact, minimise community impact.
Two options were considered: Lincolnshire Connection Node and Weston Marsh.
Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind will take the feedback gained in the Phase 2 consultation and work with the transmission owner, National Grid Electricity Transmission as it carries out further design assessments in the area, to prepare for a consultation in the autumn to help inform the design for the final consent application.
Based on the outcome of surveys and consultations, the developer also confirmed that it will reach the connection point via the cable route labelled 1a (the route further away from the coast, west of the A52 road).
Outer Dowsing will cease development activities along the cable route 1 option (the route closer to the coast, east of the A52).