Project One will comprise two wind farm blocks, each of approximately 600 megawatt (MW) capacity, plus offshore substations, a converter station and cable routes to shore. Onshore works will include a landfall site (with jointing pit), a cable route from the coast to an onshore converter station, and a short cable connection between the converter station and substation, located in Killingholme.
The two wind farm blocks will be situated within ‘Subzone 1’ located in the centre of the Hornsea Zone, covering an area of 620km2. Depending on the rated capacity of the turbines, likely to be between 3.6 and 8MW machines, the estimated number of turbines is between 124 and 332. The nearest turbine will be 103km from the East Riding of Yorkshire coast. Turbines used for Project One are likely to be a conventional 3-bladed design and will have a maximum rotor diameter of 150 m, maximum hub height of 120 m, and maximum rotor tip height of 200 m.
In order to provide information on wind speed and direction an anemometry mast will be installed offshore in 2011. The detailed information produced will help to calculate the most efficient layout of individual blocks of turbines within Project One. This will require a separate planning application through the Marine Management Organisation.
In addition to the anemometry mast, a Light Detection and Ranging device or Windcube LiDAR was successfully installed on an offshore helipad at the end of January 2011. The device will be fully commissioned at the end of March and provide the first accurate measurements of wind speed at the height of a wind turbine hub.
Works to identify the turbine and foundation types, the installation methodologies and layout design is ongoing and are reliant on more offshore surveys and detailed modelling to better understand the seabed conditions specific to each turbine location.
