The 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, sited on the shallow central area of the North Sea known as Dogger Bank, is the largest offshore wind project in RWE's current portfolio. The project is located 195 km off the UK’s North East coast on a site of 593 square kilometres. It has an agreed connection point at an existing National Grid substation in Lackenby, Teesside. Sofia Offshore Wind Farm is one of the four Dogger Bank projects that were awarded consent in 2015. Formerly known as Dogger Bank Teesside B, the entire project was taken over by innogy (now RWE) in August 2017 and subsequently renamed Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
The project is now under construction, and is being carried out in close collaboration with suppliers, stakeholders, statutory bodies and the authorities. The sheer scale and size of the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm will offer significant economic opportunities for the UK, with potential supply chain benefits, infrastructure and associated jobs and contracts. Having won a Contract for Difference (CfD) in the UK Government’s 2019 auction, the project achieved its financial investment decision, in March 2021. The onshore civil works for Sofia began mid 2021 along with start of the fabrication of the wind farm components. Offshore construction is due to start from 2023. In terms of components, the wind farm will comprise 100 turbines, an offshore converter station and hundreds of kilometres of both inter-array and export cables, as well as onshore electrical infrastructure.
* Pictured is the 14MW Siemens Gamesa turbine selected for use on Sofia. *