Recharge reports that one of the world’s largest planned offshore wind projects, the 3GW Dogger Bank South development in the UK North Sea, is facing a further planning setback as the government postpones its consent decision. The Development Consent Order (DCO) ruling for the project, led by RWE, was originally scheduled for 10 January, but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband now has until 30 April to decide. The government has not indicated any specific reason for extending the deadline.

Dogger Bank South is being developed in two 1.5 GW phases, approximately 100km off the North Yorkshire coast, with Masdar holding a 49% stake. According to the account carried by Recharge, the partners say the scheme could eventually supply power to about three million homes and support thousands of jobs. An RWE spokesperson told the publication that RWE and Masdar are disappointed by the decision to push back the DCO, but will continue working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other stakeholders, and emphasised that they remain committed to supporting the UK’s energy transformation.

As Recharge recalls, this is not the first delay in the planning process: in 2024, the examination was extended over concerns about seabirds, prompting an RWE lawyer to criticise planning officials and argue that they had mishandled the case. The project has also faced scrutiny over potential wake effects on neighbouring wind farms and possible interference with radar systems. Despite the new timetable, Dogger Bank South remains eligible to participate in the UK’s AR7 offshore wind auction on 14 January, following changes made last year to the Contracts for Difference scheme that allow bottom-fixed offshore wind projects to enter auctions before securing planning consent.

Source: RECHARGE