Historic day for the North East as world’s largest wind farm delivers first power to UK

THE first electricity from the world’s largest offshore wind farm has arrived in England.

The electric current was recorded immediately at the Port of Tyne headquarters, set to become the operational heart of Dogger Bank, and sent straight into the national grid.

It was a proud moment for the team at the centre in South Shields, who have spent the last year gearing up for the moment they began tracking and monitoring electricity being generated by the gigantic project located 130km out to sea.

Mark Halliday, operations director, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate achieving first power at Dogger Bank; a testament to the collective effort, dedication, and expertise of our team, partners, and supply chain.

“This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter as we embark on the exciting journey of operating Dogger Bank, powered from our state-of-the-art base in the heart of North East England.

“The first power generation at Dogger Bank is not only a momentous milestone for renewable energy in the UK, but it also holds immense economic potential for the region, creating jobs and driving sustainable growth.”

The wind farm itself covers an area nearly the size of Greater London and sits on a seabed that once formed a land bridge between the UK and Europe. 

It’s an uplifting story in an area which was once a byword for industrial decline in the decades after the end of the Second World War and not only does it now have a green industry, but significant employment opportunities.

The 260m-tall turbines – almost twice the height of the London Eye – are being installed around 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, using a specialist vessel with a lifting capacity of 3,200 tonnes, the largest of its kind in the world.

British ‘green’ energy giant SSE Renewables are doing the building work at Dogger Bank, and CEO Alistair Phillips-Davies said: “Offshore wind projects of this size are now mainstream and will help turbocharge the transition to the cheaper, cleaner, and more secure energy system we all want to see.

“It is action, not ambition, that will secure our energy future and this project shows action on a massive scale. 

“But we will need many more Dogger Banks to achieve our goals and we look forward to working with the government to bring forward more projects at pace.” 

Anders Opedal, CEO of Norway green giant Equinor, which is responsible for operating and maintaining the wind farm, said: “Set against the broader energy context, Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind farm demonstrates the best of what the offshore wind industry can offer, with innovative technologies, long-term jobs and economic growth and security of electricity supply at a major scale.

“A renewable mega-project like Dogger Bank constitutes an industrial wind hub in the heart of the North Sea, playing a major role in the UK’s ambitions for offshore wind and supporting its net zero ambitions.

“First power from Dogger Bank, is a testament to the collaboration between the authorities, the project partners, suppliers and our host communities to realise this project.”

Olav Hetland, CEO of wind farm developer Vargronn, the company which operates the specialist vessel installing turbines, said: “Dogger Bank now cements the North Sea’s new role as Europe’s renewable power plant and as the home to a world-leading offshore wind supply chain.”