Project Overview

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm is a greenfield project in the planning stage, located off the Lincolnshire coast in the UK. The project is a collaboration between TotalEnergies SE, Corio Generation (Macquarie Group), and Gulf Energy Development with an installed capacity of 1.5 GW.

The Outer Dowsing windfarm has a project value of GBP 2 billion (USD 2.49 billion) and represents one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms. The construction of the project is set to begin in 2026. The project completion is targeted for 2030. 

The offshore windfarm will provide clean electricity to 1.6 million households annually. Also, the project is expected to offset 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Currently, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has delayed its decision on the Development Consent Order for the 1.5 GW Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm. Originally due on 10 October 2025, the decision has been pushed back to allow for further consultations before consent can be granted.

Project Background

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm is part of the UK’s offshore wind energy target to install 50 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Six offshore wind projects were awarded under Crown Estate's Round 4 leasing process. These projects will add 8 GW of potential new offshore wind capacity in the UK. Outer Dowsing wind farm is one of these mega leasing round projects which aims to deliver clean electricity for more than seven million homes.

The wind power plant project was selected during the Crown Estate's Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 launched in October 2019. The project was awarded Preferred Bidder status followed by an auction process in February 2021. By January 2023, the project signed the Agreement for Lease (AfL) to reduce the project’s array area from 500 km² to 300 km² to meet increased energy density requirements.

As part of the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) and Holistic Network Design (HND), Lincolnshire Node and Weston Marsh have been selected as grid connection points. These sites will play a crucial role in integrating the renewable electricity generated by the wind farm into the national grid.

According to the construction program of Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm, the project will undergo multiple phases over a span of 4 years and nine months. In Year 1, the focus will be on the installation of the Onshore Substation (OnSS) and the onshore cable route works. The second year of construction will be concentrated on Landfall HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) and the laying of onshore export cables.

Third year of construction of the wind farm will see the installation of offshore substations and wind turbine foundations. The final year of the project is focused on laying subsea cables and the installation of the wind turbines.

The construction is expected to commence in 2026 and commercial operation targeted for 2030. This will contribute to the UK offshore wind industry and net-zero ambitions by 2050.

Project Location Details

Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind is located in the Southern North Sea, approximately 54 kilometers off the coast of Lincolnshire.

Project cost

The estimated project cost of the Outer Dowsing offshore wind farm is GBP 2 billion.

Technical Specifications

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm will consist of up to 93 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 403 meters. These turbines will be strategically arranged offshore to optimize wind capture and electricity generation. All offshore structures will be fixed to seabed including turbines and substations.

The offshore wind project will incorporate up to four offshore substations to facilitate the efficient transfer of power. To minimize transmission losses, two offshore reactive compensation platforms (ORCPs) will be installed. These cables will ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to the onshore grid.

 The offshore wind project will include a single onshore substation (OnSS), with Weston Marsh North and Weston Marsh South being considered as potential sites, pending final decision. This substation will utilize either Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) or Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) technology. High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) transmission technology used will be supported by 400kV underground cables, connecting the onshore substation to the National Grid.

The Onshore Export Cable Corridor (ECC) will feature up to 80 km of underground cabling. This will be up to 11 km between Wolla Bank and Lincolnshire Node. This underground system will ensure the efficient transfer of power from the offshore wind farm to the national grid.

Project Timeline

Contractors Involved

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Project Benefits

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm will provide enough clean electricity to power 1.6 million households annually, displacing nearly 2 million tonnes of CO2 each year. This reduction is equivalent to removing over 650,000 petrol cars from the roads.

The offshore wind project will have an economic impact supporting over 31,000 jobs in the UK. Projections are indicating that this could rise to 97,000 jobs by 2030. The project will reduce the costs of renewable power from the UK's offshore wind sector and support the regeneration of local economies.

Current and Future Outlook

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm has made progress with the Planning Inspectorate accepting the Development Consent Order (DCO) application in March 2024. Key design changes were made after multiple consultation rounds. 

The changes include the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to protect sensitive areas, amendments to the onshore cable routes, and adjustments to offshore boundaries to reduce navigation impacts. The project will continue development activities at the remaining two potential study areas for the substation location, one in the Surfleet Marsh area and one in the Weston Marsh area.

Following the wind farm's construction and full commissioning it will enter a 35-year operational phase. Also, routine maintenance, repairs, and upgrades will be regularly performed to ensure optimal performance during the operation and maintenance (O&M) period.

Conclusion

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm represents the UK's renewable energy transition of 50 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. The project will generate clean electricity for 1.6 million households with a planned capacity of 1.5 GW. The collaboration between TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, and Gulf Energy Development will contribute to the UK's energy security. The wind farm will support job creation and foster economic growth by aligning with local entities. The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm will contribute to the rise of global offshore wind in future.

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