News
Scoping Opinion received from IPC on Project One
06-12-2010
Forewind, development partner for the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm zone, potentially the world’s largest wind energy project, has received a Scoping Opinion from the Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC) on its proposed approach to the development of its first project, Dogger Bank Project One.
Forewind has the objective to achieve consent for a target installed capacity of 9GW of offshore wind farm projects by 2020, however the zone has the potential for up to 13GW. This figure equates to almost 10 per cent of the UK’s projected electricity requirements.
Forewind Head of Development, Gareth Lewis says that to ensure the work on this huge project is managed effectively, and to evenly distribute the demand on those involved – from stakeholders to the supply chain - the zone will be developed in tranches. It will be divided into four large tranches, and each tranche will be further sub-divided into three separate similar-sized wind farm projects.
This first tranche, known as Tranche A, covers an area of 2000 km2 and lies in the south west section of the Dogger Bank Zone, closest to land. It is between 125km and 182km from shore, is reasonably free of geographically specific consenting issues, has water depths generally shallower than 30m, and offers maximum design flexibility.
Work is now underway on the identification of the location of the three individual wind farm projects within Tranche A, each up to 1.4GW, as well as the three further development tranches.
Dogger Bank Project One will be the first project to be developed. It will comprise: the first of the wind farm locations identified within Tranche A, an export cable, and up to two onshore converter substations with associated infrastructure. Forewind has accepted a grid connection offer made by National Grid to connect Dogger Bank Project One into the existing Creyke Beck substation, near Cottingham in East Riding of Yorkshire.
Forewind submitted a Scoping Report to the Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC) on its proposed approach to the development of Dogger Bank Project One and has now received a Scoping Opinion from them. Both documents are available at http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/scoping-and-screening-documents/.