Equinor plans ‘UK first’ for expanded wind farms

Equinor has submitted plans to expand the Sheringham Shoal and the Dudgeon offshore wind farms, both of which are situated off the North Norfolk coast.

Turbines off coast of Norfolk

The Norwegian energy giant says it intends to develop the wind farms together with an integrated transmission system with a shared landfall and shared point of connection to the grid, which it says will be a first for the UK.

If approved, the plans will double capacity at its 317MW Sheringham Shoal and 402MW Dudgeon wind farms. The newly expanded projects will then share a single connection into the National Grid network at the Norwich Main substation.

Currently, the two facilities generate enough electricity to power about 710,000 UK homes. If the plans come to fruition, this will increase to 1.5m households.

Equinor’s project director Kari-Hege Mørk said:

“Our work on these two projects started over 3 years ago, so today is, of course, a significant milestone in the continuing development of SEP and DEP. However, it is also a milestone for the offshore wind industry, as it is the first time two offshore wind farms in the UK are being proposed with an integrated transmission system, including a single point of connection to shore.

“SEP and DEP has been identified as a Pathfinder project, enabling learnings for regulators and the offshore wind industry, and delivering additional renewable energy in line with the Government’s recently published British Energy Security Strategy.”