Triton Knoll windfarm scaled back

RWE Innogy says plans will cut cost of renewable energy

RWE Innogy has revised plans for the proposed Triton Knoll offshore windfarm project, which is being developed off the Lincolnshire coast in the North Sea.

Work on the site design has resulted in RWE deciding to progress the development with a reduced capacity which ranges between 600 and 900MW, rather than the maximum of 1,200MW. The new capacity would ensure enough energy to power the equivalent domestic needs of between 550,000 and 800,000 average households.

The revised site design would also ensure the efficiency and utilisation of the site is maximised. Project manager Jacob Hain said: “The recent optimisation work is part of a project review to make the site more competitive and more economic in line with government proposals to bring down the cost of offshore wind.”

More detailed design work on the onshore infrastructure has also taken place as part of the project review. This has resulted in significant reductions to the required onshore footprint of Triton Knoll.

The design reduces the footprint for the onshore substation by more than 50% and by 40% for the intermediate electrical compound.

Hain explained: “This is an important step forward for the development. Triton Knoll’s significant contribution of reducing the UK’s carbon emissions and tackling climate change, can now be achieved more efficiently while having less impact on the surrounding environment and communities.”

Work is progressing on developing the proposed electrical infrastructure. Local communities will have the opportunity to take part in a formal consultation, which will take place before any planning application is submitted.

Although Triton Knoll is in the development phase, more than £18 million has already been invested as a result of this project with £1.75 million invested in the east coast of England. It is anticipated that a substantial proportion of contracts associated with the construction of Triton Knoll would be awarded to British companies.

RWE said it expected the scaling back of the project would result in more economic production of electricity from the wind farm, but that it was unable to disclose by how much.

The revised nominal capacity means a significant reduced onshore infrastructure footprint. Rather than 3ha, only up to 1.8ha would be required for the intermediate electrical compound. The tallest part of the site would be up to 13m high rather than up to 15m. Rather than 20 ha, 8.6ha would be required for the onshore substation. The highest part of the site would be up to 13m high rather than 15m.

RWE said it was committed to increasing its offshore wind capacity. It has an extensive 6,000 MW offshore pipeline.

The Galloper windfarm development continues to progress with involvement of both partners, RWE npower renewables and Scottish and Southern Energy, and construction of Gwynt y Mor is under way with more than 100 turbines now in place.