The Crown Estate has described 2019 as a landmark year for UK offshore wind, hailing Hornsea One’s coronation as world leader.
Orsted’s huge project off the Humber saw first power and completion, with the 1.2GW project accounting for two thirds of the capacity increase seen across the UK.
The authority over the use of the seabed, The Crown Estate is responsible for leasing the zones for development and acting as a vital industry resource and knowledge base.
It used the report to take stock of the progress made in just under two decades.
Releasing the eighth annual analysis, Adrian Fox, head of offshore assets at The Crown Estate said: “This year’s Offshore Operational Wind Report underscores the UK’s industry growth from demonstration to a mature world-class industry in less than 20 years. The long-term outlook for the years and decades ahead remains robust, given added momentum by the UK’s inspiring 2050 Net Zero commitment.”
It tells how 32TWh of UK offshore wind electricity was produced, enough to supply 30 per cent of UK homes.
Hornsea One, operated and maintained from Grimsby, chipped in with 7.2 per cent of the total figure, coming online as it was built out, eventually taking the world-leading title from Walney Extension, which led the way with 8.6 per cent.
The Humber fleet also had Race Bank in fourth spot with 6.7 per cent and Lincs at 3.1 per cent. With Humber Gateway, Westermost Rough and Lynn and Inner Dowsing also contributing, well over one fifth of offshore wind energy was controlled from North East Lincolnshire.
Author Huub den Rooijen, director of energy, minerals and infrastructure at The Crown Estate, said: “It was a landmark year for UK offshore wind with the final turbine installed at Hornsea One, now the largest offshore wind farm globally and capable of supplying the electricity needs of one million UK homes.
“In 2019, the average turbine capacity installed reached 7MW, an increase of 18 per cent compared to last year.
“There are now more than 2,000 grid-connected wind turbines on the UK seabed.”
Orsted, the company heading towards employing 400 people at its £14 million East Coast Hub in Grimsby, has 26 per cent of the UK market when it comes to operational and under construction farms.
Hornsea Two is about to enter physical installation, as a decision on consenting Hornsea Three is awaited.
Looking forward, Mr den Rooijen flagged up announcements about the next generation of wind turbines, including that SSE and Equinor intend to use the GE Haliade-X 12MW turbine at their proposed Dogger Bank wind farm sites.
Last month Siemens Gamesa unveiled a 14MW model.
“In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to make a legally binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050,” he said. “It is widely predicted that offshore wind will provide a significant and increasing role in this transition, but governments, stakeholders and industry will need to work together to make this a reality. It will be critical to balance the benefits of such a scale-up with the pressures created in the environment, both offshore and onshore.”
Mr den Rooijen, who highlighted the envious location the Humber enjoys several years ago, said: “Our strategic enabling actions programme is intended to support this journey, via two broad ambitions, to provide high quality data and evidence to advance the understanding of offshore wind deployment and the impact on the marine and onshore environment; and to bring together all relevant parties to develop a common understanding and take coordinated actions to address challenges.
“Over the course of 2019 we worked to define the focus of the programme in partnership with Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; along with stakeholders. Together, we continue to take the necessary actions to responsibly enable future offshore wind projects.”
He told how The Crown Estate was exploring how offshore transmission infrastructure could be designed for a longer lifespan – potentially up to 60 years to facilitate two wind farm project cycles, adding he was encouraged to see Ofgem recognising the need to consider coordinated grid solutions for offshore wind in its Decarbonisation Action Plan, published in February. He added: “This is a positive development and we will devote time to this in 2020.”
For the full The Crown Estate 2019 Offshore Wind Operational Report report, click here.
