World’s largest wind farm to be built off Yorkshire coast

The offshore wind farm, known as Hornsea Project One, will be able to meet the electricity needs of well over one million UK homes when it is fully commissioned in 2020.

The investment is part of £6bn that Dong is spending in the Humber over a seven-year period to 2019.

Hornsea will have a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW) – the first in the world to have a capacity of more than 1 GW. Dong is also the owner of Walney wind farm in the Irish Sea, which had an extension approved in October that would have made it the world’s largest, at 660MW.

“Our decision to construct this giant wind farm underlines our commitment to the UK market,” said Brent Cheshire, Dong Energy’s UK chairman.

“Hornsea Project One will support the supply chain and help create local jobs. To have the world’s biggest ever offshore wind farm located off the Yorkshire coast is hugely significant, and highlights the vital role offshore wind will play in the UK’s need for new low-carbon energy.”

The overall Hornsea Zone, which lies in an area that stretches eastwards from a point 20 miles off the Yorkshire coast, covers 4,000 sq km. The Project One area is located 120km off the coast and covers 407 sq km.

Dong became the sole owner of the Project One zone a year ago and bought out its partners in the SMart Wind consortium for Projects Two and Three last August .

“We are excited about building this huge wind farm and pushing the boundaries of the offshore wind industry,” added Henrik Poulsen, chief executive of Dong Energy.

“Hornsea together with Race Bank, Westermost Rough and Lincs will make up a giant production area off the British east coast, supporting our efforts to deliver green and independent energy to

society.”

Hornsea was granted a contract for difference by the UK Government in April 2014 and will receive a fixed tariff for the first 15 years of production.

 

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