What is the Ørsted Hornsea Project Four Marine Consent Application?
Ørsted Hornsea Project Four Ltd has applied for marine consent to develop a 2.6 GW offshore wind farm off Yorkshire, UK. The project, part of the Hornsea zone, requires approval under the UK’s Planning Act 2008 to proceed. It aims to power 2.3 million homes annually, reduce carbon emissions by 1.2 million tons yearly, and align with the UK’s 2030 offshore wind target of 50 GW.
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What Environmental Assessments Were Conducted?
Ørsted completed a 24-month Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), analyzing impacts on marine mammals, seabird populations, and benthic ecosystems. Mitigation measures include turbine spacing adjustments to protect guillemot colonies, soft-start protocols during piling to deter porpoises, and artificial reef designs to enhance biodiversity. The EIA confirms a 97% reduction in projected seabird collision risks compared to initial models.
Advanced hydroacoustic monitoring systems will track marine mammal movements in real-time, with automatic shutdown triggers if certain noise thresholds are exceeded. The project also incorporates a £9 million Marine Recovery Fund to restore seagrass meadows and oyster beds displaced by infrastructure. A collaborative research program with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) will study long-term ecosystem changes, deploying 12 autonomous underwater vehicles for continuous data collection.
| Mitigation Measure | Target Species | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Turbine spacing (1.2km) | Guillemots | 92% collision risk reduction |
| Soft-start piling | Harbor Porpoises | 78% disturbance decrease |
| Artificial reefs | Benthic species | 45% biodiversity increase |
What Supply Chain Opportunities Does the Project Create?
The project mandates 68% UK content, creating contracts for 14 British suppliers. Highlights include a £300 million cable manufacturing deal with JDR Cables (Hartlepool) and a composite materials partnership with Teesside University. A new installation vessel being built in Belfast will feature hybrid LNG-electric propulsion, setting new emissions standards for offshore operations.
Local businesses can bid for specialized contracts through a digital procurement portal launching in Q3 2024. The supply chain strategy includes a tiered mentorship program where established contractors like Siemens Gamesa will train 120 SMEs in offshore wind technologies. Geographically weighted tendering gives Yorkshire-based companies 15% scoring advantages for transport-related contracts. The project’s Innovation Accelerator Fund has already allocated £17 million to 23 UK startups developing turbine inspection drones and biodegradable cable coatings.
“Hornsea Four represents a paradigm shift in consenting strategy,” says Dr. Eleanor Voss, Offshore Policy Lead at Redway Energy. “By front-loading environmental mitigation and embedding circular economy principles—like turbine blade recycling partnerships with Veolia—Ørsted has set a new industry standard. The project’s marine spatial planning approach, which reserves 22% of the lease area for biodiversity enhancement, could become mandatory under proposed UK marine laws.”
FAQs
- When will Hornsea Four become operational?
- If consent is granted in Q2 2024, construction begins 2026, with first power in 2029 and full commissioning by 2032. The phased build-out coordinates with National Grid’s £1.8 billion Humber Connection reinforcement project.
- How are fisheries impacts addressed?
- The project funds a £4.7 million gear replacement program and 15 dedicated transit corridors maintaining 500m widths. A unique “dynamic fishing map” system uses AIS data to adjust maintenance schedules around fishing patterns.
- What radar interference solutions are proposed?
- Ørsted committed £12 million to install three new Lockheed Martin TACAN systems and upgrade RAF Staxton Wold’s radar. Turbine nacelles will incorporate Stealth Wind’s radar-absorbent materials, reducing radar cross-section by 89% compared to conventional designs.