DONG Energy to build world's largest windfarm off Yorkshire coast

The offshore wind farm will use 190m tall wind turbines – larger than the Gherkin building in London.

DONG Energy has made a final investment decision to build the giant Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.

With a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts (GW), Hornsea will on completion be the world's first offshore wind farm to exceed 1,000MW in capacity and by a large margin become the world's largest offshore wind farm. It will be able to meet the electricity needs of well over one million UK homes.

Hornsea Project One will span a huge area which is more than five times the size of the city of Hull. The offshore wind farm will use wind turbines which will each be 190m tall – larger than the Gherkin building in London.

The project has the potential to create about 2,000 jobs during its construction phase with up to 300 additional jobs supported directly and indirectly throughout its operational phase.

Siemens has been named preferred supplier for the 7MW wind turbines and the engineering group's turbine production facilities in Hull will support the project. A £25m contract has also been awarded to UK infrastructure company Balfour Beatty for the construction of the onshore substation.

Henrik Poulsen, chief executive of DONG Energy, said: "We are excited about building this huge wind farm and pushing the boundaries of the offshore wind industry. Hornsea together with Race Bank, Westermost Rough and Lincs will make up a giant production area off the British east coast, supporting our efforts to deliver green and independent energy to society."

Hornsea was granted a Final Investment Decision Enabling Contract (Contract for Difference) by the UK government in April 2014 and will receive a fixed tariff for the first 15 years of production. The wind farm is expected to be fully commissioned in 2020.

Hornsea will surpass Walney Extension, which had a final investment decision in October 2015, as the world's largest offshore wind farm. Walney Extension will have a capacity of 660MW so Hornsea is almost double the size.

Brent Cheshire, DONG Energy UK's country chairman, said: "Our decision to construct this giant wind farm underlines our commitment to the UK market. Hornsea Project One will support the supply chain and help create local jobs.

"To have the world's biggest ever offshore wind farm located off the Yorkshire coast is hugely significant, and highlights the vital role offshore wind will play in the UK's need for new low-carbon energy."