By: AGBI

A joint venture between the UAE’s Masdar and Germany’s RWE has secured approval from the UK energy ministry to develop the Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

The proposed wind farms, DBS West and DBS East, are expected to have a combined installed capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) and will produce electricity to power nearly 3 million homes annually in the UK, the state-run Wam news agency reported.

The wind farms will be located more than 100km off the northeast coast of England, creating opportunities for businesses and communities in Yorkshire, the Humber and the wider UK.

In January, the projects secured contracts for difference – a government scheme to support low-carbon electricity generation that guarantees a fixed price for the supply of power – at a strike price of £91.20 ($122.60) per megawatt-hour from the UK government.

The development consent order application was originally made in June 2024, with more than 1,000 documents submitted to the planning inspectorate for review and 10 online examination hearings held.

RWE and Masdar will now conduct detailed final design work and progress procurement decisions, with the plan to take a final investment decision next year.

Masdar (49 percent) and RWE (51 percent) joined forces in December 2023 to deliver Dogger Bank South.

RWE is leading the development, construction and operation. DBS West is expected to be commissioned in 2031, while DBS East will become operational a year later.

Masdar’s UK portfolio includes a €5.2 billion co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia Three offshore wind project, as well as stakes in the London Array Offshore Wind Farm (630MW) and the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm (402MW).

Last month, the Abu Dhabi-based green energy producer partnered with Elektroprivreda Crne Gore, Montenegro’s national power utility, to develop large-scale renewable energy projects in Montenegro.

Masdar is owned by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned Taqa (43 percent), Mubadala (33 percent) and Adnoc (24 percent).