- Site investigations will be largest offshore pre-construction works to date
- Fugro contracted to map seabed and sub-seafloor conditions to aid foundations design
innogy’s Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm is set to begin its most extensive offshore programme of works to date with Fugro’s UK-based marine site characterisation group taking the helm.
The team of technical specialists at Fugro GB Marine will lead a programme of seabed and sub-seafloor investigations on behalf of Triton Knoll, with three vessels operating out of the Humber.
Another local firm, PMSL, will also provide guard vessel services for the duration of the works, ensuring the survey areas remain safe and clear at all times.
It’s the first major offshore activity for the 860MW(1) project since its successful bid into the Government’s latest Contract for Difference (CfD)(2) auction in September and after innogy, one of the world’s leading offshore renewables companies, acquired former partner Statkraft’s shares in the wind farm to become sole owner.
Andy Barwise, Triton Knoll Principal Geotechnical Engineer, said: “We’re delighted to be taking our first steps into UK waters so soon after our successful CfD bid, and very pleased to have Fugro at helm of this important stage of the project.
“This programme of site investigations will aid our detailed design work, and marks a critical stage in our preparations for offshore construction, currently expected to begin in 2020. These site investigations will be key to the production and installation of the 90 monopile foundations, currently being designed by UK firm Atkins on behalf of main contractor Smulders Sif Steel Foundations JV , and which will support the most powerful and efficient wind turbines currently on the market.”
Triton Knoll is now entering an exciting phase, with a CfD secured and all of its Preferred Suppliers on board and collaborating towards the delivery of the project’s business plan.
Under a circa £3m contract, Fugro will operate three vessels out of the Humber, supported by technical teams from the company’s Wallingford headquarters. The full package of geophysical and geotechnical investigations will involve the mapping and testing of the seafloor and sub-seafloor conditions and borehole testing to a depth of up to 50metres, at the locations of all 90 turbines and 2 offshore substations. It will also look at conditions around the export and inter-array cable locations.
Tony Hodgson, Fugro’s Global Product Manager for Renewables said: “We are pleased to be involved in this strategically important project. Our delivery of accurate, reliable data will not only support innogy’s decisions in the development process but will help to ensure the long-term, safe operational performance of this facility.”
Triton Knoll is an innogy-owned offshore wind farm, and has a planned installed capacity of 860MW capable of supplying the equivalent of over 800,000 UK households per year, with renewable electricity.
The project was awarded a Contract For Difference in September 2017, and expects to trigger a capital expenditure investment of around £2billion into much needed UK energy infrastructure. This will enable the delivery of some of the lowest cost energy generation for UK consumers.
It is now progressing towards a financial investment decision likely in 2018 with full onshore construction starting shortly after, and offshore construction starting in 2020. First energy generation could be as early as mid-Q1 2021, with the project expecting to begin commissioning in 2021.
For more information about Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm, please visit: www.tritonknoll.co.uk
Ends
| Media Contact | |
| Mark Fleming
Triton Knoll Communications Manager
M: 07825 608096
|
Vicki Griffiths
Senior Project Manager, Fugro
|
Editors notes
Ownership
Triton Knoll is 100% owned by Innogy Renewables UK Ltd (innogy).
(1) Energy Generation
It is estimated that the average annual generation expected at the site could be equivalent to the approximate domestic needs of an expected minimum of 800,000 average UK households.
Energy predicted to be generated by the proposal is derived using wind speeds monitored in the local area and correlated with long term reference data. The energy capture predicted and hence derived homes equivalent figure may change as further data are gathered.
Equivalent homes supplied is based on an annual electricity consumption per home of 4100 kWh. This figure is supported by recent domestic electricity consumption data available from The Digest of UK Energy Statistics and household figures from the UK National Statistics Authority.”
(2) CFD award and consents
Triton Knoll was awarded a Contract for Difference on Monday 11 September 2017.
In July 2013, the Secretary of State granted consent for the offshore array element of the project (turbines, offshore substations, inter array cables etc). In September 2016, the Secretary of State also granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Electrical System (ES) which connects the power generated from the offshore array into the national grid onshore. The ES consent includes the offshore export cable, the onshore underground export cable, an intermediate electrical compound at Orby, and a new substation at Bicker Fen, ultimately ensuring the delivery of energy potentially into an anticipated 800,000 UK homes once the wind farm is fully operational.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
innogy SE
innogy SE is Germany’s leading energy company, with revenue of around €44 billion (2016), more than 40,000 employees and activities in 16 countries across Europe. With its three business segments Grid & Infrastructure, Retail and Renewables, innogy addresses the requirements of a modern, decarbonised, decentralised and digital energy world. Its activities focus on its
23 million customers, and on offering them innovative and sustainable products and services which enable them to use energy more efficiently and improve their quality of life. The key markets are Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as several countries in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe, especially the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. In renewable power generation, the company is also active in other regions, e.g. Spain, Italy and the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa), with a total capacity of 3.7 gigawatts. As a leader of innovation in future-oriented fields like eMobility, we are represented in the international hot-spots of the technology industry such as Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv, London and Berlin. We combine the extensive expertise of our energy technicians and engineers with digital technology partners, from start-ups to major corporates. With planned capital investments of around €6.5- €7.0 billion (2017-2019), we are building the power market of the future and driving forward the transformation of the energy market.
Renewables
With an installed capacity of more than 900 megawatts in offshore wind and with over 1900 megawatts in onshore wind, innogy is one of the major operators in Europe. We plan, build and operate plants to generate power and extract energy from renewable sources. Our aim is to take the expansion of renewables in Europe further in the short term, both on our own and working with partners. We believe that working together in this way is the key to making the energy transition a success. Currently, we are particularly strongly represented in our home market, Germany, followed by the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands and Poland. At the moment we are focusing on continuing to expand our activities in onshore and offshore wind power. We are also looking at entering new markets and technologies, such as large-scale photovoltaic plants.
Further information: www.innogy.com
Fugro
Fugro is the world’s leading, independent provider of geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions. Fugro acquires and analyses data on topography and the subsurface, soil composition, meteorological and environmental conditions, and provides related advice. With its geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions Fugro supports the safe, efficient and sustainable development and operation of buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure and the exploration and development of natural resources.
Fugro works around the globe, predominantly in energy and infrastructure markets offshore and onshore, employing approximately 10,500 people in around 60 countries. In 2016, revenue amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.