UK’s Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Project To Be Delayed Until 2025

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United Kingdom-based renewable energy company SSE Renewables has announced that a shortage of vessels, challenging weather conditions, and supply chain issues will lead to delays in the operation of the first phase of the Dogger Bank offshore wind project – Dogger Bank A. According to the company, the project will not begin functioning until 2025.

The Dogger Bank offshore wind project is a joint venture between three major energy companies including SSE Renewables and Norwegian company Equinor which owns 40%, with the remaining 20% held by Vårgrønn.

In its trading statement that was published on February 8, SSE Renewables said, “Following notification of further vessel unavailability over the coming weeks there is an increasing possibility that full operations will not be achieved until 2025.” However, SSE remains optimistic about the financial potential of the project, with the statement adding that the delay is not expected to change project returns materially”.

It also added, “The business is working closely with its supply chain partners to improve current turbine installation rates, with a further update on progress to be provided in May with the publication of FY24 results.”

This delay also throws light on the bottlenecks the UK offshore wind sector has been facing. Recently, Ørsted, the Danish company behind the Hornsea 3 wind farm off the Norfolk coast, recently announced job cuts and scaled-back production targets.

In its latest trading statement, SSE Renewables said, “SSE Renewables output over the first three quarters was around 15% below plan, or 10% below plan relative to a full year, having been impacted by a combination of mixed weather conditions, short-term plant outages and rephasing of flexible hydro output into the fourth quarter. January has seen continued mixed weather conditions for the renewables fleet.

It also noted, “Good progress has been made by SSE Renewables at Viking in Shetland and at Yellow River in Ireland, where the first turbine has now been installed, as well as installation of the HVDC transmission system, cabling and foundations at Dogger Bank A.”