Survey works to begin on Lincolnshire coast ahead of £224m Triton Knoll wind farm

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Triton Knoll is set to start survey works on the dunes and beach at Mogg’s Eye, Anderby, Lincolnshire as plans to build a new wind farm move into the next phase.

The government granted consent for the company’s electrical system, potentially worth £224 million, in September, much to the concern of local officials who said it would have a negative effect on the environment.

Plans include a substation near Skegness and a connection facility at Bicker Fen near Boston, to feed to the national grid.

The project expects up to three days of survey works to begin on Wednesday, November 3.

The company says it will be using technology that has been designed to leave minimal impact once the work is complete.

Triton Knoll has consulted Anderby Parish Council in preparation for the survey activity.

Triton Knoll Technical Engineer Andy Barwise said: “We’re very conscious of wanting to keep the impact of our survey works to a minimum.

“That’s why we’ve not conducted any beach surveys until now, to avoid the key tourist season and school holidays when the beach is most likely to be in use. We’ve also opted to use one of lowest impact surveying techniques available.

“The most anyone is likely to see will be the tracked survey vehicle as it goes about its work in and around the beach area, but little else.

“These are essential survey works which will help us to plan our directional drill beneath the beach and dunes, ensuring that, during the construction phase, the cable can be installed with no disturbance to the sea defences.”

Mogg's Eye at Anderby. Photo: Mark Taylor

Mogg’s Eye at Anderby. Photo: Mark Taylor

The work will take place at a total of 18 sites in and around the beach area, five of which are within the inter-tidal zone of the coastline.

The surveys are called Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) and will help the project get a better understanding of the ground conditions at the point where the offshore export cable, which carries the clean energy generated by the wind turbines, comes ashore.

Testing involves pushing an instrumented probe of 36mm diameter into the ground from a vehicle called a Cone Penetration Test (CPT) Rig.

One vehicle is required on site, although a second standby rig may also support the work.

Each is about the size of a transit van and fitted with low ground bearing pressure rubber tracks, designed for minimal ground impact.

All testing kit and machinery is contained within the vehicle, including hydraulic ram for driving the 36mm diameter CPT probe into the ground through an opening in the vehicle floor.

Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm will be located approximately 32km off the Lincolnshire coast and 50km off the coast of North Norfolk.

It is being developed a joint venture between Innogy Renewables UK Ltd(1) (50%) and Statkraft (50%), with innogy managing the project on behalf of the partnership.

With an anticipated up to 900MW installed export capacity, the wind farm would have the potential to power up to 800,000(2) UK homes once fully operational.

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.