First Triton Knoll Offshore Platform Successfully Installed
The 857MW Triton Knoll Offshore Windfarm project reached a major milestone as the first of the two Siemens Offshore Transformer Modules® (OTM) – the offshore substation platforms – sailed from Hoboken, Belgium to its final destination, 32 kilometres off the Lincolnshire coast.
The OTM left the ENGIE Fabricom yard in Hoboken on 6 April and reached its offshore location on 12 April. Once it arrived, it was successfully installed onto its monopile foundations: transition pieces and cable decks manufactured and installed from our Wallsend facility near Newcastle.
The OTMs, which were fabricated and fit out in Hoboken by Smulders and our partner ENGIE Fabricom, are an essential part of the wind farm. They stabilise and maximise the voltage of the power received from offshore before transmitting the electricity to shore. Each OTM weighs 1,400 tonnes, is 41 metres tall and covers an area of 560 m². Both OTMs will be installed on a monopile foundation, of which some 16 metres is below sea level.
Julian Garnsey, Project Director for Triton Knoll and innogy, said: “In the current climate, the delivery of this milestone is a notable achievement. Our thanks go to everyone who contributed to the safe installation of this platform, which is testament to the commitment of the teams involved, all of whom are operating under tight control measures in line with the current UK Government guidance.
