The latest offshore wind farm to enter construction off the East Coast has reached a major milestone, with the installation of the first substation platform.
The huge maritime engineering feat was pulled off over the Easter weekend, with the 1,400 tonne giant one of two to feature in the 857MW Triton Knoll array, Innogy’s multi-billion pound project off the Lincolnshire coast.
Designed by Siemens Energy Ltd, it was brought across from Belgium, having been fabricated by Smulders in partnership with Engie Fabricom.
At 41m tall, the offshore transformer module - which stabilises and maximises the voltage before sending ashore - covers an area of 560 sq m.
Set to handle the power generated by some of the largest turbines yet deployed, it forms a key part of the state-of-the-art electrical system that will connect both the onshore and offshore assets into the national grid distribution network.
An extra factor was additional coronavirus measures for the reduced teams of contractors working on several vessels to complete the task. These included tugs Seraya and Centaurus, tasked with carefully towing the valuable cargo on Greenbarge 3.
Once at the farm after a six day crossing of the North Sea, they were joined by Subsea 7’s heavy lift vessel Seaway Strashnov, to lift into place 20 miles off the Lincolnshire coast.
Julian Garnsey, Innogy’s project director for Triton Knoll, said: “In the current climate, the delivery of this milestone is a notable achievement. Our thanks go to everyone who contributed to the safe installation of this platform, which is testament to the commitment of the teams involved, all of whom are operating under tight control measures in line with the current 海角视频 Government guidance.
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“At Triton Knoll we remain committed to delivering electricity infrastructure equal to the typical needs of over two million 海角视频 residents and within the timescales expected by the 海角视频’s energy supply.”
The specialist monopile foundations, transition pieces and cable decks were manufactured and installed from Smulders’ Wallsend facility. The former is embedded some 16m below sea level. Key infrastructure for both offshore substation platforms has also been constructed in Manchester and Scotland, as the state-of-the-art project continues to deliver on its commitment to invest in the 海角视频 supply chain.
Scottish manufacturer JGC, subcontracted to Manchester-based Siemens, has completed the manufacture of several offshore container modules which will house critical electrical equipment for the project’s offshore substations. The modules are purpose-built to cope with the rigours of the marine environment and have now been successfully fitted onto the decks of each of the project’s two offshore substations.
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Both platforms have also been fitted with davit crane units designed and built by Granada Material Handling, continuing the long-term involvement of the Manchester-based manufacturer with Innogy’s offshore wind farms.
When construction is complete the two platforms, East and West, will each receive electricity generated by 90 MHI Vestas v164-9.5 MW turbines, before converting it for transfer to the landfall connection via two huge export cables due to be installed this summer.
Mark Pilling, managing director for transmission solutions at Siemens Energy Ltd, said: "I’m incredibly proud of the team who have worked on this project, who worked very hard to meet this major milestone and had to do so in challenging circumstances. Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the team needed to adapt how they worked on site quickly, to meet the government guidance. But with a reduced workforce, the work was carried out ensuring the safety of our employees and contractors.
“Once both platforms are in position on their foundations, we can then move to the next stage of the project and get them connected to the grid to ensure homes and businesses can benefit from the clean, green energy generated by this project.”
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The first turbine foundation and transition piece was installed in January, with the array covering an area of 145 sq m. There are now six turbine foundations installed, as well as the second offshore substation platform foundation.
It will be operated and maintained from a new base at Royal Dock, Grimsby, a port which has established itself as a world-leader for such services, with six wind farms now operational - including the world’s largest, Hornsea One, awaiting its official crowning having overtaken Walney Extension off the North West coast when construction completed last year.