Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms | |
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![]() Lynn wind farm with Lincs wind farm under construction to rear (2011) | |
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Country | England, United Kingdom |
Location | The Wash/ North Sea |
Coordinates | 53°07′39″N 00°26′10″E / 53.12750°N 0.43611°E |
Status | Operational |
Commission date | March 2009 |
Wind farm | |
Type | offshore |
Distance from shore | 5.2 km (3.2 mi) |
Power generation | |
Units operational | 54 |
Make and model | Siemens Wind Power 3.6MW |
Nameplate capacity | 194 MW |
Capacity factor | 31-36% (2009-2012) |
External links | |
Website | www.glidwindfarms.com |
Commons | Related media on Commons |
The Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms are a pair of round 1 wind farms located in the North Sea, in the shallow waters at the entrance to The Wash off the coast of Lincolnshire, England. The wind farms were developed as a single unit after planning consent was given in 2003. Construction work began in 2006 and was completed in 2009.
The farm has a maximum output of 194MW from 54 Siemens Wind Power 3.6-107 turbines with a generating capacity of 194 MW. The capacity factor of the farm has been 31 to 36%.
The Lynn wind farm and the Inner Dowsing wind farm were initially developed as separate projects by AMEC and Renewable Energy Systems. The projects received planning consent in 2003. [1] At the planning stage the development was opposed by fishermen. [2]
In 2003 Centrica Renewable Energy acquired the Lynn and the Dowsing wind farm projects and merged them into a single development. [3][ unreliable source?] Tendering for construction of the wind farm took place from 2005, with contracts awarded between 2006 and 2007. [1]
In 2006 Nexans was awarded a contract to supply inter-array and export cabling for the windfarm, consisting of 32 and 40 kilometres (20 and 25 mi) of 36kV three core cables. [4] MT Hojgaard was contracted to install the offshore foundations. [5] Siemens Wind obtained the contract to supply 54 of its SWT-3.7-107 wind turbines for the farm, [6] and Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution supplied the onshore 33 to 132kV substation and associated switchgear, and was contracted to lay the onshore cables. [7]
Onshore civil engineering work began in late 2006 - a substation was constructed near Skegness., [8] [9] onshore construction including cable laying, was complete by 2007. [10] Installation of the offshore foundations was undertaken using the vessel MV Resolution - foundations were installed by 2007, [note 1] and cables and turbines were installed by 2008, with the last turbine installed July 2008. Commissioning work was complete in March 2009. [8]
The project cost was an estimated €349 million. [11]
In 2009 TCW acquired a 50% stake in the farm (and the 26MW onshore Glens of Foudland wind farm) from Centrica for £84 million ($137.5 million). [12]
In early 2016 Centrica and EIG Global Energy Partners agreed to sell the wind farm to a consortium ( Green Investment Bank 51% and BlackRock 49%). The sale including the 26MW onshore Glens of Foudland wind farm was valued at c. £423 million. [13] [14]
During 2010 Siemens changed bearing on the Burbo Bank wind farm due to corrosion problems, and examined bearings at Lynn and Inner Dowsing; subsequently the company decided to replace bearings on all 53 machines in 2011. [15] [16]
In 2012 Centrica established a maintenance base for the wind farm at No.3 Fish Dock at the Port of Grimsby. [17]
In the first four years of full operation (2009–12) the farm had a capacity factor of between 31 and 36%. [18] Levelised costs have been estimated at £102/MWh for Lynn and £97 for Inner Dowsing. [19] In c.2012-3 an additional 20MW of turbines were built within the wind farm, as part of the Lincs Wind Farm development - they were connected to the Lincs' export grid. [20]
In 2014 Cofely Fabricom GDF Suez was awarded the contract to carry out grouting repairs and structural modifications on the turbine foundations. [21] [note 2]
By 2014 some of the initial 'under warranty' service plans were coming to an end. [23] In early 2015 ABB was awarded a maintenance contract for the electrical generators and other electrical equipment on the wind farm. [24] Cofely Fabricom GDF Suez was awarded a general repair contract for the farm including major repairs in March 2015. [25]