• Renewable energy

Putting Triton Knoll on the map

Pre-installation teams move from East Anglia One to start preparatory work on innogy's latest offshore wind farm

James Fisher Marine Services (JFMS) has started work on clearing the site of innogy's massive new Triton Knoll offshore wind farm off the Lincolnshire coast of any potential obstructions to construction such as unexploded ordnance (UXO) and boulders.

As we reported in the last issue of Pelican, the JFMS team recently won this significant contract to clear the 145km2 site, which is bigger than the city of Manchester and the largest in the innogy portfolio.

The project marks an evolution of the relationship JFMS has developed with innogy since completing a landmark offshore services contract on innogy’s Galloper Wind Farm, off the coast of Suffolk, in 2016.

Peter Godfrey, key account director for JFMS, says:

‘We are lucky to have a collaborative relationship with innogy and the experience we’ve gained from previous projects has allowed us to put together a solution for Triton Knoll based on a really clear understanding of the customer’s requirements.’

The JFMS team has been able to move onto Triton Knoll hot on the heels of similar work for East Anglia One, and is expecting to move the team and clearance vessels directly to another wind farm clearance project when Triton Knoll is complete.

Clearance work of this kind is critical to the safe and efficient installation of the 90 turbines, two offshore substations and miles of inter-array and export cables that make up the 857 megawatt (MW)² wind farm. The UXO haul is likely to be significant because Lincolnshire was dubbed ‘Bomber County’ during the Second World War as the bulk of the UK’s bombing force was based there. Many will have been forced to jettison any unused bombs into the sea close to the coast on returning from missions.

Jennie Kevis-Stirling, survey specialist for JFMS adds:

‘This contract win shows clearly that the provision of pre-installation services for offshore wind farms is now a core offering for JFMS. The team is continually growing in expertise, expanding the wealth of experience we gain from each project.’

In anticipation of this and future contracts, JFMS had already expanded into new facilities at Grimsby, taking advantage of the Government’s Offshore Sector Deal that seeks to promote opportunities for investment and the growth of UK coastal communities and businesses.