Dogger Bank will ultimately supply power sufficient for around six million households.
Dogger Bank, poised to be the world’s biggest offshore wind farm, has started producing electricity, announced co-developer SSE PLC (LSE: SSE) on Tuesday.
The farm’s inaugural 277 turbines located near Yorkshire’s coast began their energy production over the weekend, according to SSE. Once fully operational, the wind farm is projected to cater to the energy needs of six million households.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked, “Witnessing the commencement of energy generation from the world’s grandest wind farm on UK waters is exhilarating. Offshore wind is pivotal for our renewable and efficient energy goals.”
Each turbine at the site, specifically the General Electric (NYSE: GE) Vernova Haliade-X 13MW, has the capacity to power a household for 48 hours with just a single spin, as per SSE’s statement.
Highlighting the monumental nature of the initiative, SSE’s CEO Alistair-Phillips Davies said, “This is the right direction in addressing the energy challenges we face.”
Along with SSE, Norway’s Equinor and Vårgrønn are partners in this venture, which is slated for full commissioning by 2026.
This achievement shines a positive light on the offshore wind sector, especially after a year marked by escalating expenses. In a contrasting scenario, Vattenfall postponed its 1.4GW Norfolk Boreas project in July, citing unfavourable market dynamics.
Furthermore, the recent contract for the different round in the UK in September didn’t attract any offshore developers, leading to appeals for an overhaul.
Reacting to Tuesday’s announcement, Energy UK stated, “The UK’s unwavering dedication to offshore wind deserves commendation. To uphold this leadership, collaboration between the government and industry is imperative, especially in optimizing future CfD rounds, reflecting the evolving market scenario.”
On this news, SSE’s stock witnessed a 2% uptick, reaching 1,558.50p on Tuesday morning.
