Pre-construction works are set to start around the onshore Triton Knoll electrical system, as innogy’s 860MW offshore wind project gears up for the start of construction this summer.
A programme of pre-construction site preparation works will start on Wednesday, 14 February at key points along the onshore cable route, with electrical system lead onshore cable installation contractors, J Murphy & Sons, subcontracting out the works.
The four weeks long programme of planned works will aim to strategically remove vegetation, including some hedgerows and trees at key points around the project’s onshore electrical system. It is part of a plan to protect breeding birds from potential impacts.
The planned mitigation will be completed before the breeding season and is informed by ecological studies carried out by the project. Once construction is finished new trees will be planted and hedgerows reinstated to replace those removed as part of the plan.
Triton Knoll was awarded a Contract For Difference in September 2017, and expects to trigger a capital expenditure investment of around GBP 2billion into UK energy infrastructure.
The wind farm will comprise 90 MHI Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines installed some 32km off the Lincolnshire coast and 50km off the coast of North Norfolk.
The project is now progressing towards a financial investment decision, expected in mid-2018, with full onshore construction starting shortly after, and offshore construction starting in 2020.
First energy generation could be achieved as early as mid-2021, with the project expected to begin commissioning in 2021.