Overview

The Hornsea 2 Offshore Wind Farm, a greenfield project located off the Yorkshire coast in the UK, is the world's largest operational wind farm. Developed by Ørsted, a Danish energy firm and commissioned on August 31st, 2022, the 1.32 GW wind farm utilizes 165 Siemens Gamesa turbines and has a project value of USD 3.64 billion.

The Hornsea Wind Farm is a massive offshore project off the Yorkshire Coast, UK, planned to reach 6 gigawatts of power. Hornsea One (1.2 GW) and Two (1.32 GW) are already operational, Hornsea Three (up to 2 GW) is under construction, and Four (1 GW) is in development.

Background

The Hornsea Project Two (HP2) is a greenfield offshore wind farm project located within the Hornsea Zone of the North Sea, UK. Ørsted, (previously Dong Energy) acquired the rights to the project in 2015 and received development consent in 2016. With a capacity of 1.32 GW, it was designed to become the world's largest operational wind farm.

The Hornsea Zone itself is a vast area with the potential to generate over 4GW of renewable energy. The UK government along with other national governments in Europe have collaborated to build some of the landmark renewable energy projects in the North Sea. Located roughly 89 km off the Yorkshire coast, HP2 sits within this zone alongside the 1.2GW Hornsea Project One. The selected area provides ideal water depths, averaging between 30-40 meters, for wind farm construction.

The project aimed to create significant job opportunities, with an estimated 2,000 positions during construction and an additional 130 permanent roles during operation. Upon completion, it was expected to generate clean energy sufficient to power roughly 1.3 million homes in the UK.

Project Timeline

In October 2012, the Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report marked the initial step towards understanding the environmental implications of the Hornsea Two project. This set the stage for subsequent environmental assessments and planning. By April 2018, site investigations offshore and enabling works for the onshore substation began, demonstrating a commitment to understanding and mitigating environmental impacts early in the project's development. 

Commencing in July 2018, the construction of the onshore substation further shaped the project's environmental footprint. April 2019 saw the beginning of onshore cable installation work, underscoring efforts to minimize disruption to local ecosystems. September 2017 marked a significant milestone with the award of the Contract for Difference and the Final Investment Decision, signaling confidence in the project's viability while considering its environmental implications. 

Offshore construction commenced in October 2020, with careful attention to marine habitats and wildlife. Finally, in August 2022, Hornsea Two achieved full operational status, reflecting successful environmental management throughout its development and implementation phases.

Hornsea 2 Location

The Hornsea 2 wind farm is situated 89 kilometers (55 miles) off the Yorkshire coast in the North Sea, adjacent to the Hornsea 1 project.

Source: Orsted

Technical Specifications

The Hornsea Project Two wind farm, with a final capacity of 1,386MW, will transmit its electricity via a 400kV line to the National Grid station at North Killingholme. Two transmission options were considered: High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) or High-Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC).

The chosen system will determine the amount of offshore infrastructure (substations) needed and the number of onshore cable trenches (4 for HVDC, 8 for HVAC). A converter station or substation will be built midway between the landfall point at Horseshoe Point and the National Grid station. 

The offshore transmission cables will span 150km, while the onshore export cables will be 40 km long. Ørsted AS will operate the project from its new Grimsby operations hub, which will be the UK's largest upon completion. 

Contractors Involved

Project cost

DONG Energy (now Ørsted) secured a record-low price for Hornsea Project Two, marking a significant milestone for the offshore wind industry. The strike price for the contract for difference (CfD) came in at approximately USD 76 (GBP 57.50) per MWh, representing a 50% reduction compared to just two years prior. This substantial cost decrease highlights the industry's rapid progress in cost efficiency.

Despite the low CfD price, the total project cost for Hornsea Two is estimated at USD 3.64 billion. This encompasses the expenses for materials, construction, wind turbine installation, and infrastructure development.

Current Status & Future Outlook

Hornsea Project Two achieved full operational status in August 2022, marking a significant milestone and becoming Ørsted's 12th operational wind farm in the UK.

The decommissioning is expected to occur at the end of the wind farm's operational lifetime, which is expected to be at least 25 years, with the possibility of an extension of up to an additional 25 years. In the last five to ten years of operation, it will be decided whether repowering will be pursued. Decommissioning is expected to take up to two years.

With Hornsea Two now operational, Ørsted is pressing forward with the development of Hornsea Three. This upcoming offshore wind energy project is expected to be the world's largest offshore wind farm in total capacity upon completion, exceeding 5 GW when combined with Hornsea One and Two. In December 2023, Hornsea Three received its development consent order, signifying a crucial step towards construction.

Looking even further ahead, Hornsea Four is proposed and this project has the potential to be another significant contributor to the UK's clean energy goals, with an estimated capacity of up to 2.6 GW and the ability to provide renewable electricity to roughly one million homes.

Summary

The Hornsea Two Offshore Wind Farm is the world's largest operational wind farm, with a capacity of 1.32 GW and a project value of USD 3.64 billion. Developed by Ørsted, it utilizes 165 Siemens Gamesa turbines and is located off the coast of Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The project was commissioned in August 2022 and is expected to be operational for about 25 years, generating a green energy supply for approximately 1.3 million homes in the UK. 

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