Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm is due to begin a second round of site survey works in Lincolnshire next week, as it builds a detailed picture of local ground conditions at various locations along the entire 60km cable route.
The survey results will be crucial to designing the best approach to the installation of the underground export cable, Triton Knoll said.
The surveys are due to start on Monday, 14 November, for a few weeks when teams will investigate 22 sites along the route, using either trial trenching or borehole drilling techniques.
Archaeological (also known as Geophys) surveys will also be taking place, providing information that will help the project identify and mitigate sensitive areas along the route.
“The onshore site investigation works are essential to helping us better understand the detailed site-specific ground conditions of the land and environment at key locations along the length of the consented onshore cable corridor,” the project’s Onshore Cables Package Manager, Martin Knagg, said.
”The results will complement the information that we already have, and allow us to refine our designs for the installation and management of the onshore electrical system. Triton Knoll is a significant renewable energy project with a huge potential to be a catalyst for jobs, supply chain, economic and skills growth in the region. We are undertaking these works to ensure the project stays on track and can begin delivering its benefits quickly once we start construction.”
The latest works follow an earlier first phase of surveys , which mapped conditions at locations where the cable installation may require the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to drill underneath the likes of rivers and railway lines. Ahead of the second phase, Triton Knoll has liaised with landowners in advance to ensure they are completely up to speed with the work proposed.
All of the survey works are due to take place on privately owned land, and will involve the use of a range of vehicles, ranging from JCB-style tracked excavators, low loaders for delivering equipment and a number of vans for survey personnel.
The 900MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm was the largest Round 2 offshore wind farm site to be awarded a licence in 2004 by The Crown Estate, and will be located approximately 32km off the Lincolnshire coast and 50km off the coast of North Norfolk.
It is being developed as a joint venture between Innogy Renewables UK Ltd (50%) and Statkraft (50%), with innogy managing the project on behalf of the partnership.
A Development Consent Order (DCO) for the offshore array was granted by the Secretary of State in July 2013, while consent for the Electrical System was granted in September 2016.