Dogger Bank A

Location

Dogger Bank A is situated in the North Sea, approximately 130-131 kilometers off the north-east coast of England, specifically off the coast of Yorkshire.

Ownership and Development

Dogger Bank A is part of a joint venture between SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%), and Vårgrønn (20%).

Capacity and Power Generation

• Dogger Bank A has an installed capacity of 1.2 GW, which is one of the three phases of the overall 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
• The wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power a significant portion of UK homes, with the entire Dogger Bank project capable of powering up to 6 million homes annually.

Turbines

• Dogger Bank A will utilize GE’s Haliade-X turbines, which are among the world’s most powerful wind turbines. For phases A and B, 190 units of the 13 MW Haliade-X turbines are being installed. However, it is noted that phase C will use the 14 MW version of these turbines, but this applies to the subsequent phases.
• Each turbine blade measures 107 meters long, and one rotation of the turbine blades can power a UK home for more than two days.

Construction and Timeline

• Onshore construction for Dogger Bank A began in 2020, and offshore construction started in Spring 2022.
• First power from Dogger Bank A is expected in summer 2023, with commercial operations to follow around six months later in 2024.

Infrastructure and Technology

• The wind farm uses fixed-bottom turbine installations due to the suitable water depths ranging from 18m to 63m.
• Power is transmitted to shore via subsea cables and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission links provided by Hitachi ABB Power Grids.
• The construction and installation of the turbines are facilitated by the world’s largest jack-up installation vessel, the Voltaire, operated by Jan de Nul.

Operations and Maintenance

• The operations and maintenance (O&M) base for the project is located at the Port of Tyne, which will serve as the main hub for operating the wind farm and will be home to over 200 employees.

Economic and Environmental Impact

• The project has created or supported more than 2,000 UK roles in relation to its construction and operation.
• Dogger Bank A contributes significantly to the UK’s goal of reducing carbon emissions, with the entire project helping to achieve the country’s aim of cutting 68% of its carbon emissions by the end of the decade and reaching net zero by 2050.

Insurance and Risk Management

• Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has been the lead insurer for Dogger Bank A and B since the projects were placed in late 2020, and also secured the lead position on Dogger Bank C when it was placed in 2022.