RWE and Masdar's 3GW Dogger Bank South (DBS) offshore wind projects’ development consent order (DCO) application has been accepted for examination by the UK Planning Inspectorate.

The acceptance of the DCO application propels the DBS East and DBS West projects into the pre-examination phase, with a public examination scheduled for late 2024.

Masdar global offshore wind director Husain Al Meer stated: “We are delighted that, together with our partners RWE, we have taken this significant step toward advancing our offshore wind capacity in the UK, one of our key strategic markets.

“At Masdar, we are committed to developing clean and affordable energy that supports countries in their energy transitions, catalyzes economic growth and creates new jobs.

“The DBS offshore wind farms demonstrate Masdar’s dedication to building the equitable energy system of tomorrow, and we are excited that we are one step closer to making it a reality.”

Situated 100km off the northeast coast of England, the wind farms will feature 200 turbines.

The investment by RWE and Masdar in the development and construction of these offshore wind farms will contribute £1bn to the UK economy, including £400m to the Humber region.

RWE is set to spearhead the development, construction and operation phases on behalf of its partners.

Masdar holds a 49% stake in the project while RWE owns 51%.

RWE offshore wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen stated: “We are thrilled to reach this pivotal point with the DBS offshore wind farms.

“Our partnership with Masdar underscores our shared commitment to driving forward the UK's renewable energy agenda, supporting jobs and delivering substantial economic benefits to the region.

“The acceptance of our DCO application by the UK Planning Inspectorate is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams, and we look forward to progressing through the next phases.”

In January 2023, RWE secured lease agreements for the two DBS projects with the Crown Estate.

In December 2023, Masdar announced the acquisition of a 49% stake in the DBS offshore wind projects, with the shareholding agreement finalised in February 2024.

Following a successful DCO, the next stages for the projects will involve securing contracts for difference, finalising finance and commencing construction.