Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind has formally launched the statutory consultation for the 1.5 GW project in the UK and is inviting local communities and consultees for their feedback and questions.
The project team has offered a range of ways for communities and consultees to provide feedback on the project plans including an online exhibition, webinars, and public information events to be held at locations across Lincolnshire.
Following previous consultations in November 2022 and February 2023, this round of consultations looks to gather comments on the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR).
The PEIR aims to help all interested parties understand the likely environmental effects of the project alongside the potential ways in which the offshore wind farm could be designed to address these effects.
“The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind team believe that local knowledge is vital to the project as it can help us build the wind farm in the most socially and environmentally sensitive way. This is why we are keen to continue meeting with our communities and consultees so that we can incorporate their feedback into the project design,” said Chris Jenner , Outer Dowsing Development Director.
“We are often asked where the project will connect to the National Grid. There are two connection options under consideration for the Project; Lincolnshire Node or Weston Marsh, but the connection point has not yet been confirmed by the National Grid. Therefore, we will continue to consult on design proposals for both options but only one of these connection points will be taken forward when the application is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.”
The statutory consultation (Phase 2) will run until Friday, 21 July.
At the beginning of this year, the Crown Estate signed agreements for all six offshore wind projects selected in the UK’s round 4 offshore wind seabed leasing, including the 1.5 Outer Dowsing project.
The offshore wind farm is located approximately 54 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast. The project is being developed by TotalEnergy, Corio Generation, a wholly-owned Green Investment Group portfolio company, and Gulf Energy Development.
Once completed, the project will be one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms, and is anticipated that it will generate enough electricity to power over 1.6 million households.