Lincs Wind Farm

{{short description|Offshore wind farm off the east coast of England}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Lincs Wind Farm

| location = North Sea

| construction_began = 2010

| cost = £1 billion

| wind_offshore_distance = {{convert|8|km|1|abbr=on}}

}}

{{maplink

|frame=yes

|frame-height=360

|frame-lat= 53.1901

|frame-long=0.4882

|zoom=11

|text=Wind farm layout

|from=Wind turbines Lincs.map

}}

The Lincs Wind Farm is a 270 MW offshore wind farm {{convert|8|km|1}} off Skegness on the east coast of England. The total cost of the project is estimated at £1 billion including electrical transmission links. The farm was completed in 2013. It is adjacent to the smaller Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farm.

History

Centrica acquired the Lincs Wind Farm project in 2004 from Renewable Energy Systems, in 2008 the company obtained planning permission for the project.

{{cite press release

| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/21oct2008_news_centrica_gains_consent.pdf

| title = Centrica gains government consent for second generation offshore wind farm

| date = 21 October 2008

| publisher = Centrica

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150213034817/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/21oct2008_news_centrica_gains_consent.pdf| archivedate = 13 February 2015

| accessdate = 4 April 2012}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/news_story.asp?id=43003&title=Centrica's+Lincolnshire+development+leads+offshire+windfarm+stampeded

| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130505093213/http://www.utilityweek.co.uk/news/news_story.asp?id=43003&title=Centrica's+Lincolnshire+development+leads+offshire+windfarm+stampeded

| url-status = dead

| archive-date = 5 May 2013

| title = Centrica's Lincolnshire development leads offshire windfarm stampeded

| date = 29 October 2008

| work = Utility Week

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

In December 2009 Ørsted A/S (then named DONG Energy) and Siemens Project Ventures jointly acquired 50% of the project (25% share each) for £50 million, plus 50% of the capital cost of the project.Sources:

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.dongenergy.com/EN/Investor/releases/Pages/omx%20feed%20list%20details.aspx?omxid=454304

|title = DONG Energy and Siemens Project Ventures to join UK offshore wind farm project

|date = 23 December 2009

|publisher = DONG Energy

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525003124/http://www.dongenergy.com/EN/Investor/releases/Pages/omx%20feed%20list%20details.aspx?omxid=454304

|archivedate = 25 May 2011

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

{{cite news

|url = https://www.theguardian.com/business/marketforceslive/2009/oct/28/centrica-bggroup

|first = Graeme

|last = Wearden

|date = 28 October 2009

|newspaper = The Guardian

|title = Market forces breaking news: Centrica to build new wind farm

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

{{cite news

|url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article202234.ece

|title = Dong rides the wind

|newspaper = Upstream Online

|publisher = NHST Media Group

|date = 23 December 2009

|accessdate = 1 January 2010

}}

{{cite press release

|url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/23dec2009_news_lincs.pdf

|title = Centrica announces new equity partners and upgraded turbines for Lincs offshore wind farm, improving the project economics

|date = 23 December 2009

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150213034127/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/23dec2009_news_lincs.pdf

|archivedate = 13 February 2015

|publisher = Centrica

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

Preparatory construction work for the development included the extension of the National Grid electricity substation at Walpole, Norfolk, which began in April 2009.

{{cite web

| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_construction_newsletter.pdf

| title= Lincs Offshore Wind Farm Construction Update

|date=March 2012

| publisher = Centrica

|archivedate = 30 April 2015| archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150430090626/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_construction_newsletter.pdf

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

| quote = The power from Lincs will be transmitted to the National Grid substation at Walpole ... Work to build an extension to the substation commenced in 2010 to enable the power to be transformed from 132 kV to 400 kV ... Civil works commenced at the National Grid substation site at Walpole in April last year}}

{{#tag:ref|Lincs, Docking Shoal and Race Bank wind farms were to share the same onshore cable export route, and onshore substation.{{cite web|url= https://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/racebank_nontechnical_summary.pdf| title = Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm - Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150430091617/https://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/racebank_nontechnical_summary.pdf | archivedate = 30 April 2015 | date = January 2009| accessdate=11 May 2014|publisher = Centrica|page=3}} The environmental statement for the onshore works was submitted as part of the Lincs Wind Farm application.Lincs Offshore Wind Farm ES : Non-Technical Summary (January 2007) pp. 3, 5, 11|group="note"|name="shared"}} In June 2010 Siemens obtained the contract for the offshore electrical substation (£101 million).{{cite press release | date = 28 June 2010| publisher = Siemens |title =Siemens wins new £101 million order to connect Lincs offshore wind farm to the UK grid | url = http://www.siemens.co.uk/en/news_press/index/news_archive/contract-to-connect-offshore-lincs-wind-farm-to-uk-grid.htm |accessdate=8 June 2012}} Transmission cables from offshore to onshore electrical substations were installed in 2010–2011. Construction of the offshore facilities of the wind farm began in 2011, with the installation of the offshore electricity substation foundations.Sources:

{{cite news

| url = http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/news/business/skegness-windfarm-will-double-turbines-1-2558639#

| title = Skegness windfarm will double turbines

| date = 1 April 2011

| newspaper = Skegness Standard

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130811174753/http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/news/business/skegness-windfarm-will-double-turbines-1-2558639

| archive-date = 11 August 2013

| url-status = dead

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincs-work-begun/story-11191730-detail/story.html

| title = Lincs work has begun

| date = 28 March 2011

| work = This is Lincolnshire

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}} The Port of Hull was selected as one of the logistics bases for the wind farm turbine installation, supplying wind tower transition pieces. Jack-up barge JB114 arriving at the port in March 2012.Sources:

{{cite press release

| url = http://www.abports.co.uk/newsarticle/14/

| title = Lincs Wind Farm chooses ABP's Port of Hull as a logistics base for its Lincs offshore wind farm

| date = 26 March 2012

| publisher = ABP

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

{{cite news

| url = http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Hull-s-Albert-Dock-playing-key-role-North-Sea/story-15643752-detail/story.html

| title = Hull's Albert Dock playing key role in North Sea wind farm as renewables era lifts off

| date = 28 March 2012

| work = This is Lincolnshire

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

Great Yarmouth was also used as a base for the wind farm installation.{{cite web| url = http://www.4coffshore.com/windfarms/lincs-united-kingdom-uk13.html| title = Lincs Offshore Wind Farm| work = www.4coffshore.com|publisher = 4C Offshore|accessdate=24 January 2013}}

Construction of the offshore 33 kV to 132 kV substation (structure sub-contracted to McNulty Offshore Construction/Atkins PLC.{{cite web| url = http://www.mcnultyoffshore.com/en/projects/1278591393.727/1285142486.479/| title = Siemens LINCS OSS - McNulty Offshore Construction| work = www.mcnultyoffshore.com| accessdate = 8 June 2012| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202184433/http://www.mcnultyoffshore.com/en/projects/1278591393.727/1285142486.479/| archivedate = 2 February 2014}}) and of the onshore 132 kV to 400 kV substation was completed by April 2012.{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_construction_april_2012.pdf| title = Lincs Offshore Wind Farm Construction Update| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150430104010/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_construction_april_2012.pdf| archivedate = 30 April 2015| date =April 2012|accessdate=8 June 2012| publisher = Centrica| quote = Construction of the 3,000 tonne offshore substation, .. which will transform power from the wind farm from 33 kV to 132 kV .. is now complete, ... It has been built by McNulty, a subcontractor to Siemens Transmission and Distribution Limited, based in South Shields. [..] The testing and energisation of the onshore substation at Walpole, .. is now complete. This substation will boost the power from 132 kV to 400 kV}}

In August 2011, the consortia of Ørsted, Siemens, and Centrica began to seek financing for the £1 billion project, committing to providing £166.7, £75 and £333.3 million respectively (£575 million total). In June 2012 the consortia obtained financing for the project with £425 million of nonrecourse debt facilities provided from a consortium of 10 banks. Approximately 75% of the project cost was for the wind farm installation, the remainder for the high voltage electricity transmission link.Sources:

{{cite news| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-19/centrica-siemens-seek-banks-for-1-7-billion-u-k-wind-financing.html| title = Centrica, Siemens Seek Loans For 1 Billion-Pound U.K. Wind Deal| first = Sally | last = Bakewell | date = 19 August 2011 | agency = Bloomberg |accessdate=7 June 2012}}
{{cite news| url = http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-07/centrica-siemens-dong-receive-660-million-for-u-dot-k-dot-wind-park | title = Centrica, Siemens Receive $660 Million for U.K. Wind Project| first = Sally | last = Bakewell | date = 7 June 2012 | work = Bloomberg Businessweek | agency = Bloomberg |accessdate=7 June 2012}}
{{cite news | last =McKenna | first = John| url = http://www.windpowermonthly.com/news/1135472/Landmark-UK-offshore-deal-agreed| title= Landmark UK offshore deal agreed| work = Windpower Monthly |date = 7 June 2012 |accessdate=7 June 2012}}

Construction began in 2010; installation of the 75-monopile tower foundation by MT Højgaard was completed by June 2012, with the underwater installation phase completed by September 2012.Sources:

{{cite web| url =http://www.offshorewind.biz/2012/06/20/uk-mt-hojgaard-installs-last-foundation-for-lincs-wind-farm/| title = UK: MT Højgaard Installs Last Foundation for Lincs Wind Farm| date = 20 June 2012|work = www.offshorewind.biz|accessdate=27 September 2012}}
{{cite web| url = http://www.offshorewind.biz/2012/09/19/turbine-installation-starts-as-mt-hojgaard-completes-work-on-lincs-wind-farm-uk/|title =Turbine Installation Starts as MT Højgaard Completes Work on Lincs Wind Farm, UK| date = 19 September 2012| work = www.offshorewind.biz|accessdate=27 September 2012}} The first generator had been installed by 14 July 2012.{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_august_2012_update.pdf|title = Lincs Wind Farm August 2012 |date=August 2012| publisher = Centrica|accessdate=27 September 2012 }} {{dead link|date=September 2016|bot=medic}} The wind farm was scheduled to become operational in the second half of 2012, and be complete by 2013:{{cite press release | url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120607005428/en/Centrica-PLC-UK-Regulatory-Announcement-Lincs-Project|title = £425 million Lincs Wind Farm project financing agreements finalised| publisher = Centrica | date = 7 June 2012|accessdate=7 June 2012}} the final turbine was installed by March 2013;{{cite web| url= http://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/80556/uk-final-turbine-installed-at-lincs-offshore-wind-farm/ | title = UK: Final turbine installed at Lincs Offshore Wind Farm| date = 3 April 2013| work = worldmaritimenews.com|accessdate=24 January 2014}} and the wind farm officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in August 2013,{{cite web| url =http://www.siemens.co.uk/pool/news_press/news_archive/2013/lincs-offshore-wind-farm-official-opened-by-nick-clegg.pdf| title = Lincs offshore wind farm officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg| date = 1 August 2013| publisher =Siemens| type = press release |accessdate=24 January 2014}}{{cite web| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-23537870 | title = Nick Clegg opens Skegness offshore wind farm | date =2 August 2013| work = BBC News|accessdate=17 February 2016}} with commissioning complete in September 2013.{{cite web| url = https://www.centrica.com/news/lincs-offshore-wind-farm-mission-complete| title = Lincs offshore wind farm: mission complete| date = 27 September 2013| publisher= Centrica|accessdate=24 January 2014}} The license for the electrical transmission link was awarded to TC Lincs OFTO Limited for £308 million in late 2014.{{cite news| url = http://renews.biz/78469/tcp-pockets-308m-lincs-licence/| title = TCP pockets £308m Lincs licence| date = 4 November 2014| work = renews.biz| accessdate = 4 November 2014 }}

Technical description

The scheme has 250 MW of generating capacity, with an additional 20 MW of turbine generating capacity constructed within the nearby Lynn Wind Farm and Dowsing Wind Farm but connected to the Lincs project transmission system.

{{cite web

| url =http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_project_history.pdf

| title = Lincs Project History

| publisher = Centrica

| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20141230192019/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_project_history.pdf| archivedate = 30 December 2014 | accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

The project uses 75 three blade 3.6 MW Siemens wind turbines. The wind turbines have {{convert|120|m}} rotor diameter machines with {{convert|58.5|m}} blades with a hub height of {{convert|100|m}} on cylindrical steel towers. The turbines were installed in {{convert|10|to|15|m}} water depth, with a spacing of approximately {{convert|500|m}} within a {{convert|35|km2|sqmi}} wind farm.{{cite news| url = http://www.power-technology.com/projects/centricalincs/| title = Centrica Lincs Offshore Wind Project, United Kingdom| accessdate = 4 April 2012| work = Power Technology}}

Transmission of electrical power to land is by 145 kV cables supplied by Nexans. Transmission voltage is 132 kV to land, being increased to 400 kV at Walpole substation for grid connection.

The operation and maintenance base for the wind farm is based at Grimsby,Sources:

{{cite news

| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-13274742

| title = Jobs boost in Grimsby docks wind farm project

| date= 4 May 2011

|work = BBC News

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

{{cite press release

| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/grimsby_040511.pdf

| title = Centrica signs long-term lease for operations and maintenance base in Grimsby

| date = 4 May 2011

|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150213035127/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/grimsby_040511.pdf| archivedate = 13 February 2015

| publisher = Centrica

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

where crews travel 1½ hours by boat to and from the wind farm.{{cite web |last1=Vorrath |first1=Sophie |title=From nets to nacelles: A day in the life of an offshore wind technician |url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/from-nets-to-nacelles-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-offshore-wind-technician/ |website=RenewEconomy |language=en-AU |date=5 December 2023}}

As at 2019, the windfarm has a rolling capacity factor of 39%.{{cite web |title=Lincs Wind Farm |url=https://ref.org.uk/generators/view.php?rid=R00025RPEN&tab=sm&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fref.org.uk%2Fgenerators%2Fsearch.php%3FTechCode%3DFW%252CWD |website=Renewable Energy Foundation}} Its levelised cost has been estimated at £166/MWh.{{cite journal |last1=Aldersey-Williams |first1=John |last2=Broadbent |first2=Ian |last3=Strachan |first3=Peter |title=Better estimates of LCOE from audited accounts – A new methodology with examples from United Kingdom offshore wind and CCGT |journal=Energy Policy |date=2019 |volume=128 |pages=25–35}}

The wind farm has an expected lifespan of 40 years, with electrical equipment and wind turbines expected to be replaced after 20 years. After the end of the project's lifespan the farm is to be decommissioned, including removal of turbines and electrical equipment, and removal of offshore foundations or cut off to seabed level or lower. Connecting cables are not scheduled to be removed.

{{cite web

| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_decomissioning_plan.pdf

| title = LINCS Offshore Wind Farm Decommissioning Plan: On behalf of Lincs Wind Farm Limited

| date =December 2010

|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150213041754/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_decomissioning_plan.pdf| archivedate = 13 February 2015

| publisher = Centrica

| pages = 1–2

| accessdate = 4 April 2012

}}

Notes

References

=Sources=

;Centrica

{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_nontechnical_summary.pdf| title = Lincs Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Statement : Non-Technical Summary| date = January 2007 | publisher = Centrica|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223846/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_nontechnical_summary.pdf| archivedate = 12 May 2014 | ref=nontech2007}} Statement for main wind farm area.
{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_non-technical.pdf| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150108015655/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_non-technical.pdf| archivedate = 8 January 2015| title= LID6 Environmental Statement On behalf of Lincs Wind Farm Limited : Non-Technical Summary | date = May 2010 | publisher = Centrica}} Statement for 6 additional turbines of 20 MW within Lynn & Inner Dowsing farm area.
{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_construction_activities.pdf| title = Lincs Offshore Wind Farm - Construction Activities | archivedate = 8 January 2015| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150108015533/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_offshore_wind_farm_construction_activities.pdf | date = January 2011| publisher = Centrica|accessdate=7 June 2012}} Project timeline and turbine locations (proposed).
{{cite web| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_wind_farm_project_history.pdf| title = Lincs Wind Farm project history| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150108015413/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lincs_wind_farm_project_history.pdf| archivedate =8 January 2015 | publisher = Centrica}}

;Other