RWE Innogy published a report outlining the results of a study undertaken with National Grid which considered the merits of 17 different substations across the east coast of England. The report highlights why Bicker Fen near Boston is the best location to connect the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm to the national grid.
In addition, the report, based on an eight month in-depth study, reviewed offshore and onshore cable routings and undertook an appraisal of all possible landfall options up and down the coast.
Undertaken in 2011, the Interface Selection Assessment concluded that Bicker Fen, with underground cabling through Lincolnshire, offered the most economic, efficient and coordinated solution. Importantly, it would also have the least environmental impact over other options considered.
The 150 page RWE Innogy report has highlighted clear shortcomings in the other potential options, including a connection at Killingholme, which would have cost £128 million more than Bicker Fen because it required an extra 10km of cables and an additional large substation.
Jacob Hain, Triton Knoll Project Manager said “We have always been transparent and open with communities and stakeholders about our decisions. The report details how, after many months of in-depth analysis, considering all of the options available, Bicker Fen was identified as the best option to connect Triton Knoll offshore wind farm to the national grid.
“We know and appreciate that some people feel other options such as Killingholme might have been better, but this in-depth study should help everyone understand that we have chosen the right option. Now more than ever the UK’s energy system must be cost-efficient to energy consumers, and we have tried to minimise environmental impact by making use of existing infrastructure – Killingholme would never have achieved these key objectives.”
“This Autumn we will present the proposed scheme in full to the public at a number of exhibitions and this report will form part of the documentation for that formal consultation. We will be able to talk through the results of the study and its findings. We have also recently held some exhibitions for landowners along the cable route, many of whom expressed interest in this decision.”
Triton Knoll was awarded a Development Consent Order for the offshore array of the wind farm by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in July 2013. Once constructed it could provide enough electricity to meet the energy needs of up to 800,000 average UK households annually.
The project represents a multi-billion pound investment to provide cleaner greener, home-grown energy for the UK.
Triton Knoll is still in the early stages of development but over £20 million has already been invested in the UK and around 1800 jobs could be created from its construction.
Up to £500,000 will be available for local communities during the onshore construction works and up to a further £40,000 of community investment awarded annually to areas neighbouring these activities, during the operational life-time of the wind farm.
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Press release, September 08, 2014; Image: rwe