Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Applies for Development Consent

March 21, 2024, by Adnan Memija

Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind, a joint venture between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation and Gulf Energy Development, has submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the 1.5 GW offshore wind project in the UK.

The DCO application includes an offshore wind farm comprising up to 100 wind turbines, underground cables to carry the power from the landfall site close to Anderby Marsh, and a new onshore substation at Surfleet Marsh. The project will then connect to the existing National Grid overhead transmission lines in the Weston Marsh area.

The Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to decide if the application will be accepted for examination.

“This application is the culmination of many studies, surveys, community meetings and consultation events. We have taken on board feedback to design the project in the most environmentally sensitive way,” said Chris Jenner, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Development Director.

If the DCO application is accepted by The Planning Inspectorate, the project will move to the examination stage.

A panel of independent inspectors will examine the application and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State about whether the project should go ahead, according to Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind.

The 1.5 GW offshore wind project is being developed approximately 54 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast.

In January 2023, the Crown Estate signed agreements for all six offshore wind projects selected in the UK’s round 4 offshore wind seabed leasing, including the 1.5 Outer Dowsing project.

A few months later, formally launched the statutory consultation for the wind farm which ended in July.

Once completed, the project will be one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms, and is anticipated that it will generate enough electricity to power over 1.6 million households.

“Upon completion, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind will be one of the UK’s biggest wind farms stopping the equivalent of nearly two million tonnes of CO₂ from entering our atmosphere every year. In addition to addressing climate change, we have an opportunity to build our new renewable power generation in a way that minimises disruption and maximises the benefit to the UK,” said Jenner.