The Dogger Bank offshore wind farm, set to be the world’s largest, has faced further delays in delivering electricity at a previously agreed low price due to technical difficulties with its turbines. Originally scheduled to begin supplying power at a record low fixed price by the end of November, developers SSE, Equinor, and Vargonn have been granted permission to postpone the contract start date until the end of July 2027.

This delay comes as the project has failed to meet key criteria, including achieving the generating capacity necessary to activate the fixed-price contract. As a result, Dogger Bank will continue selling its electricity at prevailing market prices, which are significantly higher than the contract rates, until the new start date is reached.

Located more than 80 miles off the coast of Yorkshire, Dogger Bank comprises 277 turbines with a total planned capacity of 3.6 gigawatts, potentially providing power for around six million homes. The wind farm, developed in three phases, initially received approval in 2019 after securing contracts that guaranteed fixed, low electricity prices.

The first phase, Dogger Bank A, was intended to begin delivering low-cost electricity as early as 2023 but has encountered repeated setbacks. Two turbine blades failing sparked a series of cascading issues, which have contributed to ongoing delays. A recent government document cited "unforeseen and significant technical issues" related to the installation, remediation, and commissioning of the turbines as key challenges.

Dogger Bank A carries a contract price of £55.01 per megawatt-hour (MWh), significantly below current wholesale market prices, which have escalated to approximately £170/MWh. The subsequent phases, Dogger Bank B and C, have contracts set at £57.92/MWh. The fixed-price supply agreements were intended to last for 15 years; however, the eight-month delay beyond the established “longstop date” will reduce the contract duration by the same period.

A spokesperson for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm noted that despite construction delays in 2024 impacting the commissioning schedule, they remain confident that Dogger Bank A’s total capacity of 1.2GW will be substantially operational by the end of 2026, consistent with previous guidance. They emphasized that the project represents world-class energy infrastructure expected to provide lasting benefits and enhance Britain’s energy security for decades to come.

While the delays have pushed back the anticipated availability of low-cost power, the developers continue to work through the technical and commissioning challenges associated with the ambitious offshore wind project.