SSE Renewables and Equinor have finalised a seabed lease with The Crown Estate to progress the proposed 1500MW Dogger Bank D offshore wind farm.
The deal amends the existing Dogger Bank C lease to maximise capacity from the eastern portion of the site, located 210km off the Yorkshire coast.
Dogger Bank D would add up to 1.5GW to the 3.6GW Dogger Bank wind farm, already the world’s largest offshore project under construction.
The fourth phase remains subject to a development consent order and final investment decision by the 50:50 joint venture partners.
SSE Renewables offshore development and construction director Steve Wilson said: “We’re delighted to have finalised an amendment to the existing Dogger Bank C seabed lease agreement with The Crown Estate to unlock additional clean energy potential from the site’s existing seabed lease.
“In amending the lease in this innovative way, we’ve taken significant strides to progress Dogger Bank D as a proposed fourth phase of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction.”
Equinor UK renewables regional development head Melissa Read said: “Reaching this milestone for the Dogger Bank D development provides future opportunity to unlock more value and volume from the world’s largest offshore wind farm whilst building on our expertise and presence in the North East of England.
“The UK is a core strategic market for Equinor and Dogger Bank D demonstrates how there is the potential to further develop our future UK portfolio by having the opportunity to increase future value from quality existing assets.”
The Crown Estate marine managing director Gus Jaspert said: “This new approach to increase capacity on the existing windfarm site that The Crown Estate has agreed with Equinor and SSE, through Dogger Bank D, will enable more communities to benefit from the energy it creates and the jobs it supports.”
Dogger Bank D is one of seven UK projects identified under The Crown Estate’s Capacity Increase Programme to add up to 4.7GW of new renewable capacity.
A statutory consultation on Dogger Bank D’s offshore and onshore proposals has recently concluded, with a development consent order application expected in due course.