An independent report has suggested that the Dogger Bank Wind Farm will contribute £6.1 billion to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ economy over its lifespan and support thousands of British jobs for the next thirty years.
The site, located off the Yorkshire coast, is poised to become the world's largest offshore wind farm upon its completion in 2027.
The 3.6GW wind farm, which is being constructed in three 1.2GW phases, all in the North Sea, will have the capacity to generate enough power for approximately 6 million º£½ÇÊÓƵ homes annually. The report, penned by economic consultants BVG Associates, indicates that the £6.1 billion GDP contribution will be fuelled by substantial investment in º£½ÇÊÓƵ companies, jobs and skills throughout the wind farm's lifecycle.
The report was commissioned by Dogger Bank Wind Farm's equity partners SSE, Equinor and Vårgrønn, who are currently building the farm more than 130km off the Yorkshire coast.
The total number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs supported by the initial commissioning phase of the project is projected to reach 3,600, with 1,500 of these based in the North East, North Yorkshire, and East Riding of Yorkshire. Additionally, 1,400 FTE jobs are anticipated to be sustained throughout the wind farm's operational life of at least 35 years.
Dogger Bank Wind Farm has pledged to invest an additional £26m directly into local communities, with a focus on enhancing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education, as well as supporting crucial grassroots community initiatives. This community investment scheme includes a scholarship programme for STEM students, with 123 grants already awarded to students in East Riding of Yorkshire, Redcar and Cleveland, and South Tyneside, reports .
The direct expenditure with companies in the North East of England, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire is projected to exceed £3bn, supporting hundreds of jobs in these regions. Companies such as Jones Bros, Bowmer and Kirkland, Boston Energy and Tekmar have already benefited from this.
The Government's Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, has praised the findings of the report. He said: "Clean, homegrown power is the right choice for families and industry right across the country. Wind power is cheaper, cleaner and more secure than new gas, helping us bring down bills for good. As shown by this independent report, offshore wind projects such as Dogger Bank will generate billions for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, while also delivering thousands of good jobs, showing once again that clean power is the economic opportunity of the 21st Century."
Dogger Bank Wind Farm project director Olly Cass said: "People have always been at the heart of everything we do on Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Even from the early days of planning, there was an inherent drive from everyone involved to see what value we could unlock through this extraordinary engineering masterpiece.
"Offshore wind is a global sector with a global supply chain, but this report proves we have the skills, expertise and desire in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ to fuel the energy transition and create economic value that's far-reaching. The ripple effects of our º£½ÇÊÓƵ spend, generating £6.1bn for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ economy, can be felt from the Highlands of Scotland, down to the south coast, and plenty more in between. BVGA's report also gives us a chance to reflect on important lessons learned, so we can use Dogger Bank as the springboard for future economic growth in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ in our development of critical energy infrastructure."
Alun Roberts, director of economics at BVG Associates, said: "Our independent analysis shows the significant impact of the Dogger Bank Wind Farm. Our economic model shows that the boost to the economy and jobs is sustained through the life of the project. This is vital for sustaining political support for offshore wind."
James Lockwood, senior contracts manager at Jones Bros, added: "As a company, we are always eager to give our apprentices and trainees valuable on-site experience, and as the world's largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank is a hugely significant project to be a part of. The numbers speak for themselves, with five higher apprentices and three trainee engineer apprentices working on Dogger Bank, whilst we also recruited 28 ground worker trainees and 18 plant operative apprentices. I know it has always brought everyone from senior managers to trainees and apprentices a great sense of pride to be associated with the scheme."
