Groundbreaking Achievement: World’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Powers British Homes and Businesses

A significant achievement in energy security has been reached as the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, generates its first power. Dogger Bank is now linked to the United Kingdom’s national grid, providing electricity to British homes and businesses for the very first time. This marks a substantial milestone in the development of the industry and the transition toward a cleaner and more reliable energy system. The 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm is located 70 nautical miles (approximately 130 kilometers) off the coast of Yorkshire in UK waters, within the North Sea. It is divided into three phases, each with a capacity of 1.2 GW, known as Dogger Bank A, B, and C. At Dogger Bank A, the first turbine has begun to turn and generate electricity. The power generated by this offshore wind farm is now being transmitted to the UK’s national grid through Dogger Bank’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system, marking the first use of HVDC technology in a UK wind farm. The production of the first power followed the installation of GE Vernova’s Haliade-X 13 MW turbines, among the largest and most powerful globally, at the Dogger Bank site.

This is a groundbreaking achievement as it represents the first offshore energization of Haliade-X units anywhere in the world. Each rotation of the 107-meter long blades is capable of generating enough energy to power an average British home for two days. Equinor, the lead operator during the operational phase of the wind farm, will be responsible for maintaining and operating Dogger Bank throughout its anticipated 35-year lifespan. Operations and maintenance activities will be conducted from the recently established O&M base at the Port of Tyne, creating around 400 jobs, including personnel from the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, Equinor, GE Vernova, and North Star.