Dogger Bank A delays raise transmission licensing concerns
Developers of the 1.2GW offshore wind farm have applied for two extensions to the period allowed to sell its transmission infrastructure as technical issues continue.
By Energy desk · 14 Oct 2026 · Yorkshire coast
Continued construction delays at Dogger Bank A are raising potential legal concerns over its transmission infrastructure, with developers seeking more time to complete the process required to transfer the assets to a third party.
The 1.2GW offshore wind farm off the Yorkshire coast is in the final stages of construction. Final commissioning is expected next year, despite an original expectation that the project would enter operations in 2023.
Developers SSE, Equinor and Vargronn have warned that ongoing technical issues are still affecting the project. In submissions to a recent UK government consultation on the delays, they cited “cascading unforeseen and significant technical issues”.
The delays could leave the project transmitting power without a licence if the permitted period for retaining its transmission infrastructure expires.
Under current rules, wind farm operators can build their transmission infrastructure but are not allowed to retain ownership. They have a 27-month window to sell the assets to a third party.
That period allows time to demonstrate the infrastructure’s viability, find bidders and hold an auction. Beyond it, operators are not legally allowed to transmit power from their projects.
Repeated delays at Dogger Bank A have prevented that sale process from taking place. With first power generated in October 2023, the developers have already applied for two extensions to the permitted period.
The construction programme has faced challenging weather and two separate incidents involving damaged blades on its GE Haliade-X 13 MW turbines. Dogger Bank was the first project where these turbines were installed.
Turbine installation began in 2023, the year operations had originally been expected to start. All 95 units have now been installed, but technical issues remain as the project moves towards final commissioning.
Dogger Bank A forms part of the wider Dogger Bank offshore wind farm. The delays have also raised potential insurance concerns, Energy Voice reported.