The 580MW Race Bank is being developed by DONG Energy in the Greater Wash region, approximately 27km off the UK east coast. It will be one of the biggest offshore wind farms in the world when completed. DONG acquired the project from Centrica for £50m (approximately $81m) in December 2013.
The Crown Estate had awarded a 50 year lease to Centrica for building the Race Bank wind farm in 2004. The development consent for the project was awarded in 2012. Onshore construction is expected to begin in 2015, followed by offshore construction in 2016, while commercial operation is scheduled to begin in 2018.
With an estimated operational lifespan of 25 years, the Race Bank wind farm is expected to produce electricity sufficient to provide for more than 400,000 UK homes. It is further estimated to offset more than 830,000t of CO2 emissions a year.
Race Bank offshore wind farm location and make-up
The offshore wind project will be located approximately 17m (27.3km) from Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk Coast, and approximately 17.4m from the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St. Leonards. It will be approximately 32km off the British eastern coast and will extend over approximately 75km².
The wind farm will consist of 91 Siemens wind turbines of 6MW each. Each turbine will have a rotor diameter of 154m and be erected on monopile foundations in water depths ranging between 6m and 26m.
A2SEA's purpose-built offshore installation vessel Sea Challenger will be used to install the turbines.
Offshore and onshore substations at Race Bank
The wind farm will comprise three offshore substations and an onshore substation, which is expected to be completed in 2016.
Alstom Grid's DS Agile technology, a next-generation digital control system for smart substations, will be installed at the project. The DS Agile system will include advanced situational awareness features and MiCOM P40 Agile protection system, which enables to protect, monitor and control the assets.
The onshore substation will be located adjacent to the Walpole Substation and will consist of all the equipment to transmit power from the offshore substation to the national grid network.
Transmission of electricity generated by Race Bank
The electricity generated by the wind farm is proposed to be delivered to the onshore substation by using export cables. The cables are proposed to have a landfall east of the Nene River and approximately 3.7m (5.95km) north-north-east of Sutton Bridge.
Cables will be buried onshore for 6.8m (11km) from the landfall point to a new substation extension located directly adjacent to the existing substation at Walpole, Norfolk.
Contractors involved with the offshore wind project
JDR, a company based in the UK, will supply the subsea power cables. Its contractual scope includes the design and manufacture of 110km of 36kV inter-array cables, and accessories including hang-offs, electrical T-connectors, and cable cleats.Siemens Wind Power was awarded the contract for the supply, erection and servicing of the wind turbines.
J Murphy & Sons was awarded a £21.8m ($34m approximately) contract for the construction of the onshore substation. WSP will provide civil design support for the same.
Jan De Nul Group was engaged for installation of subsea export cables from the landfall to two offshore platforms, and that of the interlink between the offshore substations.
The contract for supply of 91 transition pieces for the wind farm was awarded to Bilfinger Mars Offshore (BMO). DONG Energy engaged Atkins to provide detailed substation design for the project.
NKT Cables was contracted for the supply of more than 150km of 220kV high-voltage export cable systems. The submarine cables are proposed to be delivered in 2017 in three phases.
Alstom was awarded the substation automation contract, while Seaway Heavy Lifting was contracted for the offshore substation transportation and installation. Dalcour Maclaren was appointed to advice on land rights in relation to the wind farm.
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