Ofgem Selects Consortium for Dogger Bank B Transmission Assets
Diamond Transmission UK and Chubu Electric Power win bid for major offshore infrastructure.
1Consortium Wins Transmission Bid
Ofgem has named a consortium comprising Diamond Transmission UK and Chubu Electric Power as the preferred bidder for the Dogger Bank B offshore transmission assets. This selection follows the competitive Tender Round 11 process, which began in February 2024. The winning group will acquire and operate the critical infrastructure for twenty-five years.
2Infrastructure Valuation and Components
The transmission system is valued at approximately GBP 1 billion, or roughly EUR 1.2 billion. The assets include extensive subsea and onshore cables, alongside an offshore converter station and an onshore converter station. These components are essential for connecting the 1.2 GW wind farm capacity to the broader UK national grid network.
3Project Context and Timeline
Dogger Bank B is the second phase of the 3.6 GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm, currently the world's largest offshore wind project. Located 130 kilometres off the UK east coast, the site is owned by SSE Renewables, Equinor, and Vårgrønn. Construction is ongoing, with turbine installation currently progressing toward full operational status.
4Technological Implementation Details
The transmission system utilizes high-voltage direct current technology to move electricity efficiently from the offshore site to the grid. The offshore converter station was successfully installed in April 2024 using the Saipem 7000 heavy-lift vessel. This technology remains vital for managing power losses over the long distance to the mainland.
5DTUK Portfolio Expansion
Diamond Transmission UK is a subsidiary of Global Infrastructure Partners, which is part of BlackRock. Following this acquisition, the company will manage eleven UK offshore transmission projects. This brings their combined operational capacity to nearly 7 GW, with a total transferred asset value exceeding GBP 5.5 billion across the entire portfolio.
6Chubu Electric Power Strategy
For the Japanese utility Chubu Electric Power, this project marks its third investment in UK offshore transmission. The company previously collaborated with Diamond Transmission UK on the Walney Extension and Hornsea 1 projects. They aim to leverage this opportunity to deepen their technical expertise in subsea maintenance and high-voltage direct current systems.
7Regulatory Selection Process
Ofgem launched the tender round in February 2024 to identify qualified operators for the transmission assets. By July 2024, the regulator had shortlisted four distinct bidder groups for final consideration. The appointment of the Diamond Transmission UK and Chubu consortium was officially confirmed on 5 November 2026, concluding the selection phase.
8Long-term Operational Impact
The successful bidder will receive an Offshore Transmission Owner licence to manage the assets for the next quarter-century. This long-term commitment ensures stable operation and maintenance of the connection infrastructure. As the UK expands its offshore wind capacity, such regulatory frameworks remain crucial for integrating renewable energy into the national grid.
Original article: offshoreWIND.biz — Ofgem Selects Consortium for Dogger Bank B Transmission Assets