Grant Shapps, the secretary of state for energy security and net zero, has granted a development consent order (DCO) for Ørsted’s Hornsea Four offshore wind farm. Ørsted acquired the development rights for the Hornsea zone from SMart Wind in 2015. Hornsea One and Two are already operational, while Hornsea Three obtained a DCO in late 2020.
The project application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in September 2021. It was then accepted for examination in October 2021. It includes proposals for land acquisition, rights over land, and temporary possession of land. Hornsea Four is the 73rd energy application to undergo examination within the designated timescales outlined in the Planning Act 2008. It is also the 126th Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. After resolving concerns related to environmental compensation measures and overlap with a proposed carbon capture project, the construction of Hornsea Four can now proceed.
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Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm’s Location
The project will be located approximately 69km off the Yorkshire Coast in the North Sea. Hornsea Four’s plans entail installing and operating up to 180 wind turbines. This is along with their foundations and up to six offshore transformer substations. The project also includes up to three High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converter substations or up to three offshore High Voltage Alternating Current booster stations. An offshore accommodation platform and a network of subsea electrical circuits connecting various components will also be constructed.
Furthermore, Hornsea Four will feature a marine connection that joins offshore export cables with onshore export cables via up to six underground transition joint bays. The development will require the construction of an onshore substation (OnSS) and energy balancing infrastructure (EBI). They will be built near Creyke Beck, north of the village of Cottingham. Thus, they will help connect with the National Grid Electricity Transmission substation.
