860 MW Triton Knoll offshore wind project starts onshore construction

The onshore construction of the Triton Knoll offshore wind project has officially started, as work commenced on the electrical system, located in Lincolnshire, east-central England, which will transport power from the 860 MW wind farm to UK homes.

The official breaking-ground took place directly on the route of the new high voltage underground export cable at the main onshore cables site offices near Stickney.

UK firms J Murphy & Sons Ltd and Siemens Transmission and Distribution Ltd (STDL) have been contracted by lead developer Innogy to build the project, and are already carrying out initial works including the establishment of site offices, temporary construction compounds and bell-mouths at key points along the route.

Onshore construction presents some significant engineering challenges as Triton Knoll requires the installation of over 57km of underground electrical export cable below ground in Lincolnshire. The route starts at the landfall location north of Anderby Creek, where the onshore and offshore cables connect. It runs to a new substation being constructed near Bicker, and then to the existing National Grid Bicker Fen Substation where the electricity from the offshore wind farm will ultimately connect into the grid.

Over 300 individual directional drills – a record for a UK infrastructure project – will ensure the onshore cables can be installed without obstructing  any roads, highways, rivers or drains.

Work on the new onshore substation will start early in 2019, with Siemens constructing a new facility close to the existing electrical substation near Bicker. Work is already underway to construct a new bellmouth entry point and 3.8km access road to the new substation construction site to ensure that construction traffic can avoid use of smaller local roads.

Both Murphy and STDL have already engaged a number of local companies in preparation for the construction start, and are continuing to seek local and regional companies to further support their work.