Hornsea Wind Farm
Hornsea Wind Farm is a Round 3 wind farm which began construction in 2018.[1] Sited in the North Sea 120 km (75 mi) off the east coast of England, the eventual wind farm group is planned to have a total capacity of up to 6 gigawatt (GW).
Hornsea Wind Farm
England, United Kingdom (offshore)
Operational
2020 (Hornsea One)
2022 (Hornsea Two)
Offshore
1218 MW (One)
1386 MW (Two)
The development has been split into a number of subzones. The 1.2 GW Project 1 gained planning consent in 2014. Construction of Hornsea One started in January 2018,[2] and the first turbines began supplying power to the UK national electricity grid in February 2019.[3] The turbines were all installed by October 2019 and the equipment fully commissioned in December 2019. [4] With a capacity of 1,218 MW, it was the largest in the world on its completion.
A second 1.4 GW Project 2 was given planning consent in 2016. First power was achieved in December 2021, and it became fully operational in August 2022 overtaking Hornsea One as the largest offshore wind farm in the world.[5]
In 2016 a third subzone was split into two projects Hornsea 3 and 4, with approximate capacities of 1–2 GW and 1 GW, increasing the capacity of the developed project to a maximum of 6 GW.
In July 2023, British government officials gave the final approval for Hornsea Four, the fourth phase of the wind project.[6] Hornsea Four is expected to generate 2.6GW, have 180 giant wind turbines, and has the capability to generate enough renewable energy to power 1 million homes in Britain.[7][8]
History[edit]
The tendering process for Round 3 offshore wind farm opportunities was begun by the Crown Estate in 2008. Bids were received in March 2009, and Zone Development Agreements signed in December 2009.[9] The Hornsea development zone was awarded to a joint venture (SMart Wind) of Siemens and a consortium Mainstream Renewable Power including Hochtief. The development had an estimated potential generating capacity of 4 GW.[10]
The Hornsea site is one of three off the British coast in the North Sea, roughly halfway between the other two: Dogger Bank Wind Farm and East Anglia Wind Farm.[11] The Hornsea site ('Zone 4', also known as 'Holderness' zone) has a total area of 4,730 square kilometres (1,830 sq mi), and is 38 kilometres (24 mi) from land at the closest point; water depth in the zone is from 22 to 73 metres (72 to 240 ft), with a tidal range of 2 to 5 metres (6 ft 7 in to 16 ft 5 in), and typical annual wave height of 1.35 to 1.78 metres (4 ft 5 in to 5 ft 10 in). The surface of the seabed consists primarily of sands and gravel.[12]
In 2011 the Danish firm Ørsted A/S (then named DONG Energy) became a partner in SMart Wind.[13] In early 2015 Ørsted A/S became the 100% owner of the first phase, Project 1, of the scheme.[13] Ørsted acquired rights to the remaining subzones of the Hornsea development (2 & 3) by August 2015.[14]
In 2016 Ørsted reached an agreement with the Crown Estate for amended plans for the Hornsea Two and Hornsea Three phases. Hornsea Three was split into two new projects, Hornsea Three and Hornsea Four; the new phases were expected to be developed in the 2020s.[15] The changes increased the potential generating capacity of the wind farm to 6 GW, with Hornsea Three estimated at 1–2 GW and Hornsea Four at about 1 GW.[16][17]
Hornsea Project 4[edit]
Ørsted put forward a plan to add a fourth area to the Hornsea wind farm in 2018, with the area covering 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi), and being located adjacent, north-west of Hornsea Project 1. During 2018 and 2019, consultation with the local communities which will be affected by the project occurred, with a Development Consent Order application originally intended in the first quarter of 2020.[76] However additional consultations and revisions delayed the submission until September 2021, with further analysis needed on the impacts to kittiwake, razorbill and guillemot populations in the Flamborough and Filey Coast Special Protection Area.[77] Part of the site is also scheduled for an underground carbon dioxide storage, leading to conflict over the use of the seabed and the ocean surface.[78]
The project's capacity is unknown by Ørsted due to the ever increasing size of available wind turbines for the project. Government approval for phase four was given by Grant Shapps in July 2023.[79] Pre-construction site enabling works are expected to commence in the first half of 2025 and completion is expected by 2030.[80]