Remote‑first substation design streamlines commissioning and cuts costs at Dogger Bank

By Simon Wynne, ABB 

Dogger Bank is a large-scale offshore wind development located in the central North Sea, more than 130 km off the coast of Yorkshire in the UK. The project, which is a joint venture by SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn, comprises three phases: Dogger Bank A, B and C. It has a combined installed capacity of 3.6 GW. Last year’s float-out of the offshore substation for Dogger Bank C marked a major offshore installation milestone.

In 2019, in collaboration with Norwegian contractor Aibel, ABB was chosen to supply electrical substations for all three phases of the project, along with auxiliary control systems, overall OT security, IT infrastructure, condition monitoring, telecoms, low-voltage power distribution and bus ducts. 

Together, these systems support remote operation of the offshore substations, reducing the need for routine offshore access. Given the distance from shore and exposure to harsh offshore conditions in the North Sea, a key requirement for the substations was to largely operate unattended. 

Technical approach and execution

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission systems connect power from Dogger Bank’s offshore substations and transmit it to shore for the UK grid. This project marks the first-time use of HVDC technology on a UK offshore wind farm.

Electrical, automation and control systems were developed from the earliest design stage to support day-to-day operation, fault response and maintenance planning without permanent offshore staffing or reliance on weather-dependent access.

Each offshore substation brings together power conversion, protection and automation systems to support centralized monitoring and control. From onshore control centers, operators can monitor electrical performance, equipment condition and alarms in real time, and carry out switching and recovery actions remotely when required. 

A consistent approach was applied across all three project phases. This meant replicable system architectures, interfaces and operating methodologies could be deployed, reducing complexity and applying lessons learned from previous phases. 

Results and impact

Designing the offshore substations for remote operation delivered clear benefits during both commissioning and operational readiness.

During commissioning, remote visibility reduced delays associated with offshore troubleshooting and limited the need for repeat site visits during narrow weather windows. Tasks that would otherwise have required offshore presence, such as system verification, fault investigation and operational checks, were completed or supported from shore, helping maintain installation schedules.

From an operational perspective, the largely unattended model shifts routine activities from offshore intervention to shore-based management. This reduces personnel exposure to offshore safety risks, lowers vessel use and improves the predictability of operating costs. Continuous monitoring also supports earlier identification of abnormal conditions, allowing maintenance activities to be planned rather than reactive.

Secure communications help maintain system availability and remote control during faults or connection interruptions. Cybersecurity was incorporated into the system design to protect remote access to essential electrical infrastructure.

Lessons learned

As offshore wind projects continue to grow in scale and be installed farther from shore, remote operation is a necessity rather than an enhancement. 

Designing systems for remote operation from the outset avoided the complexity and cost associated with retrofitting capabilities later in the project. Consistent designs and operating practices reduced risk, simplified commissioning and supported effective knowledge transfer between project teams.