Danish energy group DONG Energy has made a final investment decision (FID) to build the giant Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.
Once built, Hornsea will be the world's first offshore wind farm with more than 1000 MW capacity. Located 120km off the Yorkshire coast, England, it will cover about 407sq km.
With a 1.2GW capacity and expected to be fully commissioned in 2020, Hornsea will be able to meet the electricity needs of over one million UK homes.
“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,” said Henrik Poulsen, CEO of DONG Energy.
The project will also be the final stage towards DONG Energy delivering on its target of installing 6.5 GW of offshore wind by 2020. For Hornsea, DONG Energy has chosen the Siemens 7.0MW wind turbine.
DONG Energy is the sole owner of Hornsea and also has the project rights to the Hornsea Project Two and Three, which have the potential of further 3 GW offshore wind power capacity in total.
Hornsea will be the final stage towards DONG Energy delivering on its strategic target of installing 6.5 GW of offshore wind by 2020.
Poulsen said: “Reaching our strategic target is important as volume is required to reduce the cost of a new technology. It is vital in order to make all players in the value chain advance up the learning curve. As such Hornsea will be another major step in our ongoing efforts to significantly reduce the cost of electricity for offshore wind.”
Hornsea will surpass Walney Extension, which had a final investment decision in October 2015, as the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Walney Extension will have a capacity of 660 MW so Hornsea is almost double the size.
DONG Energy has chosen the Siemens 7.0MW wind turbine for Hornsea.
