The story so far
Timeline
2021
- Offshore and onshore surveys began.
2023
- RWE entered into Agreements for Lease for the offshore array areas with The Crown Estate.
- Preliminary Environmental Impact Reports (PEIR) published.
- Statutory Consultation held between 06 June and 17 July 2023. Find out more about the consultation.
2025
- Examination closes (11 July)
- Examining Authority submits report and recommendation to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (SoS) (10 October)
2027
Subject to a Final Investment Decision:
- Construction begins both onshore and offshore with first generation anticipated in 2030
2022
- Scoping Report submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.
- Scoping Opinion issued by the Planning Inspectorate.
- Introductory consultation.
2024
- Masdar became a project partner.
- Development Consent Order submitted and accepted.
2026
- Both projects secure routes to market (CfDs) in Auction Round 7 (14 January)
- DCO approved 14 May
- Discharge the consent DCO conditions
- Enabling works start for the onshore infrastructure
- Ecological, archaeological and other surveys
Overview
The DBS projects comprise two offshore wind farms, DBS West and DBS East, to be co-located on the Dogger Bank over 100km off the northeast coast of England.
The projects were awarded consent by Lord Whitehead on behalf of the Energy Secretary on 14 May 2026 following Statutory Consultation, a Development Consent Order application and a detailed examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
Throughout the development process we worked closely with stakeholders, integrating feedback and new information as appropriate. We also engaged in detailed discussion with equipment suppliers and secured a firm grid offer. This enabled us to refine key aspects of the project design at a relatively early stage, including reducing the length and width of the converter stations by 50% and removing five out of the eight proposed offshore platforms.
All the information submitted as part of the Development Consent Order application and recordings of the examination hearings are available on the Planning Inspectorate website.
Proposed infrastructure for the DBS projects.
Accelerating the UK’s Secure Energy Future
The UK Government aims to enhance energy security by increasing domestic electricity generation, focusing on renewable sources like offshore wind. This strategy reduces reliance on imported fuels, mitigates exposure to volatile international energy markets, and supports the transformation to a clean, sustainable energy system.
One of the Government’s key ambitions is to deploy between 43-50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, a target reaffirmed in the Industrial Strategy and Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan released on 23 June 2025.
As of April 2025, the UK’s operational offshore wind capacity stood at approximately 16GW, leaving significant ground to cover in just a few years. Achieving the Government’s target by 2030 will require substantial investment, innovation, and rapid deployment of new offshore wind projects to accelerate progress toward this critical goal.
Our Contribution: DBS Projects
The DBS offshore wind farms are critical infrastructure projects with the potential to make a significant contribution to a more secure energy future, providing enough clean electricity each year to meet the needs of around 3 million UK households*.
*Calculation based on 2021 generation, and assuming average (mean) annual household consumption of 3,509 kWh, based on latest statistics from Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (Subnational Electricity and Gas Consumption Statistics Regional and Local Authority, Great Britain, 2021, Mean domestic electricity consumption (kWh per meter) by country/region, Great Britain, 2021.
Other pages you might be interested in
Current status
What’s happening now and next
About RWE and Masdar
In February 2024, RWE and Masdar joined forces to deliver DBS.
Keep in touch
Get in touch and ask our team questions