First Power

The Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Farms, comprising Dogger Bank South East and Dogger Bank South West, have an indicative earliest first power date in the fourth quarter of 2029. In the Outline Kittiwake Compensation Implementation and Monitoring Plan (CIMP), prepared by RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (West) Limited and RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (East) Limited, a programme table explicitly identifies “2029 (Q4) Earliest first power for DBS” as a key milestone. This earliest first power point is aligned with the second year of the kittiwake compensation monitoring programme, which covers breeding seasons in 2028 and 2029, ensuring monitoring is underway before and during the initial operational impacts of the Projects. The same CIMP sets out the preceding sequence: securing licences, consents and seabed lease in 2025, an anticipated DCO consent grant in Q1 2026, fabrication of project-led offshore artificial nesting structures in 2026–2027, and their installation in Q4 2027, followed by kittiwake compensation monitoring campaigns from 2028 onwards. The document also notes that an onshore artificial nesting structure at Gateshead was constructed seven breeding seasons ahead of the Projects’ first possible operation, underscoring the intention that compensation benefits accrue well in advance of turbine operation. In parallel, the Environmental Statement Project Description chapter includes indicative construction programmes for DBS East and DBS West that feature a “First Power” milestone within example construction windows starting no earlier than 2026, consistent with a late‑decade first power timeframe. For Dogger Bank South West, which shares this joint DCO and programme, the earliest projected first power is therefore placed at Q4 2029, subject to consent and detailed scheduling.