Equinor Abandons Green Hydrogen Project for Largest Offshore Wind Farm

The grand vision of utilizing the fourth phase of the world's largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank D, to power green hydrogen production has been abandoned by Equinor and SSE Renewables. Instead, the focus will now be solely on supplying electricity to grids. This decision marks a significant shift in strategy for the project, which was initially unveiled a year ago with plans to add up to 2 gigawatts of turbines to the existing 3.6 gigawatts being constructed at the UK North Sea wind farm.

Equinor and SSE Renewables co-developed the Dogger Bank D project with the intention of integrating green hydrogen production, presenting two options: an onshore green hydrogen plant or a connection to the UK grid. However, the decision to secure a grid connection location in Yorkshire has led to the retirement of the hydrogen production option. The developers plan to publish an updated proposal later this month and will commence consultations with local communities on the planned grid connection. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of hybrid interconnection with a European electricity market for the new capacity.

The retirement of the option to direct wind energy towards hydrogen production was influenced by the confirmation of onshore grid connection location in the East Riding of Yorkshire. As a result, Dogger Bank D will now prioritize connecting to the electrical transmission system.

Despite having announced green hydrogen feasibility projects for Dogger Bank D in December 2023, the project's revised proposal will exclude this component, signalling a strategic shift in priorities. The installation of Haliade-X 13-megawatt turbines at the 1.2 gigawatt Dogger Bank A project began earlier this year. Originally scheduled for full completion this year, weather, vessel, and supply chain delays have pushed the timeline to 2025. The entire Dogger Bank project, with an estimated cost of £11 billion ($14 billion), is expected to supply power to around 6 million UK homes, setting a new standard for the global offshore wind sector's ambitious goals.

The installation of the Haliade-X 13-megawatt turbines at the 1.2 gigawatt Dogger Bank A project began earlier this year. Originally scheduled for completion in 2025 due to weather, vessel, and supply chain delays, the project was initially expected to be fully online this year. The overall Dogger Bank project, once the first three phases are fully built-out at a cost of approximately £11 billion ($14 billion), is set to provide power to around 6 million UK homes, setting a new benchmark for the ambitious goals of the global offshore wind sector.