Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farms

{{Short description|Pair of wind farms in the North Sea off Lincolnshire, England}}

{{Infobox power station

| name = Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms

| image = File:Offshore windfarm, Skegness - geograph.org.uk - 2687237.jpg

| image_caption = Lynn wind farm with Lincs wind farm under construction to rear (2011)

| location_map_size =

| location_map_caption =

| coordinates = {{coord|53|07|39|N|00|26|10|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| name_official =

| country = England, United Kingdom

| location = The Wash/North Sea

| status = Operational

| construction_began =

| commissioned = March 2009

| decommissioned =

| cost =

| owner =

| operator =

| ps_units_operational = 54

| ps_units_manu_model = Siemens Wind Power 3.6MW

| wind_hub_height =

| wind_rotor_diameter =

| wind_rated_speed =

| wind_farm_type = offshore

| wind_site_elevation =

| wind_site_usage =

| wind_offshore_depth =

| wind_offshore_distance = {{convert|5.2|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}

| ps_electrical_capacity = 194 MW

| ps_electrical_cap_fac = 31-36% (2009-2012)

| website = [http://www.glidwindfarms.com/ www.glidwindfarms.com]

}}

{{maplink

|frame=yes

|frame-height=300

|frame-lat= 53.1698

|frame-long=0.4509

|zoom=11

|text=Wind farm layout

|from1=Wind turbines Lynn.map

|from2=Wind turbines Inner Dowsing.map

}}

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%.

History

=Planning and construction=

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.{{sfn|Project background|2012|p=1}} At the planning stage the development was opposed by fishermen.

In 2003 Centrica Renewable Energy acquired the Lynn and the Dowsing wind farm projects and merged them into a single development.{{citation| url = http://www.power-technology.com/projects/lynnandinnerdowsing/| title = Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms, United Kingdom| access-date = 17 February 2016|work = www.power-technology.com }}{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} Tendering for construction of the wind farm took place from 2005, with contracts awarded between 2006 and 2007.{{sfn|Project background|2012|p=1}}

File:TIV Resolution raised.jpg installing wind turbines (June 2007)]]

In 2006 Nexans was awarded a contract to supply inter-array and export cabling for the windfarm, consisting of {{convert|32|and|40|km}} of 36kV three core cables. MT Hojgaard was contracted to install the offshore foundations.{{citation| url = http://mth.com/Projects/Offshore/LynnInnerDowsing.aspx| title = Lynn & Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farms| access-date = 17 February 2016| work = mth.com| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220065901/http://mth.com/Projects/Offshore/LynnInnerDowsing.aspx| archive-date = 20 December 2016| url-status = dead}} Siemens Wind obtained the contract to supply 54 of its SWT-3.7-107 wind turbines for the farm,{{citation| url =http://www.siemens.co.uk/pool/windpower/round-3/map/siemens-nwe-offshore-wind.pdf| title = Offshore wind power projects| page =4| year = 2011| publisher = Siemens }} and Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution supplied the onshore 33 to 132kV substation and associated switchgear, and was contracted to lay the onshore cables.{{citation | url =http://tdworld.com/archive/siemens-connects-offshore-wind-parks| title = Siemens Connects Offshore Wind Parks| date = 1 May 2007| work = tdworld.com}}

Onshore civil engineering work began in late 2006 - a substation was constructed near Skegness.,{{sfn|Project background|2012|p=2}}{{citation| url =http://publicaccess.e-lindsey.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_EASTL_DCAPR_51121|title = S/153/00046/03 -= Planning Permission - Erection of a substation including the provision of capacitor banks, transformers and connection equipment to an overall height of 8.4 metres, [...]|type = planning application| publisher = East Lindsey District Council| date = 13 January 2003}} onshore construction including cable laying, was complete by 2007.{{sfn|Project background|2012|p=3}} Installation of the offshore foundations was undertaken using the vessel MV Resolution - foundations were installed by 2007,{{refn|group="note"|Foundations were installed by either pile driving or drilling a pile driving. Water depths were {{convert|8.5|to|16|m}} {{convert|6.3|to|11.2|m}} according to {{harvnb|LORC||}} }} and cables and turbines were installed by 2008, with the last turbine installed July 2008. Commissioning work was complete in March 2009.{{sfn|Project background|2012|p=2}}

=Finance and ownership=

The project cost was an estimated €349 million.{{sfn|LORC|loc = Timeline & Track Records }}

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).{{citation| url =https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centrica-idUSTRE59R35020091028| title = TCW buys stake in Centrica wind farms| date = 28 October 2008| work = www.reuters.com }}

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.{{citation| url = http://www.greeninvestmentbank.com/news-and-insight/2016/glid-wind-farms-acquired-by-the-uk-green-investment-bank-offshore-wind-fund-and-funds-managed-by-blackrock/| title = GLID Wind Farms acquired by the UK Green Investment Bank Offshore Wind Fund and funds managed by BlackRock| date = 5 February 2016| work = www.greeninvestmentbank.com| access-date = 17 February 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160207115809/http://www.greeninvestmentbank.com/news-and-insight/2016/glid-wind-farms-acquired-by-the-uk-green-investment-bank-offshore-wind-fund-and-funds-managed-by-blackrock/| archive-date = 7 February 2016| url-status = dead}}

=Operations and maintenance=

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.{{citation| last = Godske| first = Bjørn| url = http://ing.dk/artikel/111244-korrosion-tvinger-siemens-til-skift-af-vingelejer-i-havmoeller| title = Korrosion tvinger Siemens til skift af vingelejer i havmøller| trans-title = Corrosion forces Siemens to replace bearings in Wind Turbines| language = da| work = Ing.dk| date = 24 August 2010| access-date = 17 February 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100827055151/http://ing.dk/artikel/111244-korrosion-tvinger-siemens-til-skift-af-vingelejer-i-havmoeller| archive-date = 27 August 2010| url-status = dead}}{{citation| url=http://www.modernpowersystems.com/news/newssiemens-to-make-precautionary-repairs-to-54-offshore-wind-turbines| title = Siemens to make precautionary repairs to 54 offshore wind turbines| date = 24 June 2011| work = www.modernpowersystems.com}}

In 2012 Centrica established a maintenance base for the wind farm at No.3 Fish Dock at the Port of Grimsby.See No.3 Fish Dock in Port of Grimsby.

In the first four years of full operation (2009–12) the farm had a capacity factor of between 31 and 36%.{{sfn|LORC|loc = Production & Performance}} Levelised costs have been estimated at £102/MWh for Lynn and £97 for Inner Dowsing.{{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|doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.044 |hdl=10059/3298 |s2cid=158158724 |hdl-access=free }} 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.See Lincs Wind Farm.

In 2014 Cofely Fabricom GDF Suez was awarded the contract to carry out grouting repairs and structural modifications on the turbine foundations.{{citation| url = http://www.fabricomgdfsuez-renewables.co.uk/news/gsa-expansion-creates-teesside-engineering-jobs/| title = Lynn & Inner Dowsing success| type = press release| date = 28 May 2013| work = www.fabricomgdfsuez-renewables.co.uk| access-date = 17 February 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160225175049/http://www.fabricomgdfsuez-renewables.co.uk/news/gsa-expansion-creates-teesside-engineering-jobs/| archive-date = 25 February 2016| url-status = dead}}{{refn|group="note"|Grouted joints installed c.2007-8 by MT Hojgaard between monopile and transition pieces had been found to be of a substandard design at the Robin Rigg wind farm.{{citation| url =http://renews.biz/65137/grout-failures-bite-mt-hojgaard/| title = Grout failures bite MT Hojgaard| date = 17 April 2014| work = renews.biz }} }}

By 2014 some of the initial 'under warranty' service plans were coming to an end.{{citation| title = End of wind farm 'warranty period' presents opportunities for Grimsby businesses| url = http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/End-wind-farm-warranty-period-presents/story-22788758-detail/story.html| date = 20 August 2014| work = Grimsby Telegraph| first = David | last =Laister }} In early 2015 ABB was awarded a maintenance contract for the electrical generators and other electrical equipment on the wind farm. Cofely Fabricom GDF Suez was awarded a general repair contract for the farm including major repairs in March 2015.{{citation| title =Grimsby business wins Centrica maintenance contract for Lincolnshire's first offshore wind farms| url = http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Grimsby-business-wins-Centrica-maintenance/story-26217560-detail/story.html| date = 23 March 2015 | first =David| last = Laister }}

Notes

References

{{Reflist|30em|refs =

{{citation| first = Patrick |last = Barkham| url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/jan/08/wind-power| title = Blown away| work = The Guardian |date = 8 January 2009}}

{{citation| url = http://www.offshorewind.biz/2016/02/05/centrica-and-eig-sell-lynn-and-inner-dowsing-owfs/ | title = Centrica and EIG Sell Lynn and Inner Dowsing OWFs| date = 5 February 2016| work = www.offshorewind.biz }}

{{citation| url=http://www.offshorewind.biz/2015/04/28/abb-to-service-lynn-and-inner-dowsing-offshore-wind-farm/| title = ABB to Service Lynn and Inner Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm| date =28 February 2015| work = www.offshorewind.biz }}

{{citation| url = http://www.nexans.com/eservice/navigation/NavigationPublication.nx?CZ=Corporate&language=en&publicationId=-3669| title = Nexans to supply cables for Centrica's Lynn and Inner Dowsing offshore wind farms| date = 31 May 2006| work = www.nexans.com |type = press release }}

}}

=Sources=

{{citation| url = http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lynn_and_inner_dowsing_background.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213032942/http://www.centrica.com/files/pdf/centrica_energy/lynn_and_inner_dowsing_background.pdf | archive-date= 13 February 2015| title = Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms - Project Background | year =2012 | ref= {{harvid|Project background|2012 }}}}
{{citation| url =http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/lynn-and-inner-dowsing| title = LYNN AND INNER DOWSING OFFSHORE WIND FARM|work = www.lord.dk | access-date = 17 February 2016| ref = {{harvid|LORC}} }}