Project firmly on target for construction in 2014
The SMart Wind consortium, led by Mainstream Renewable Power and Siemens Project Ventures, has secured grid connection for the first Gigawatt (GW) of its 4GW Hornsea offshore wind development off the Yorkshire coast. The offshore wind farm will connect to Killingholme substation, an existing 400kV substation located in the Humber region and owned by National Grid. The agreement sets out first connection in 2014. This significant milestone places the project firmly on track to commence construction in 2014 with the remaining 3GW planned for construction between 2015 and 2020.
Hornsea is one of the three largest zones awarded for development under The Crown Estate’s Round 3 programme in December 2009. SMart Wind, a 50/50 joint venture between Siemens Project Ventures (SPV) and Mainstream, has assembled a unique vertically integrated consortium ensuring all major deliverables such as HVDC, cables, wind turbines and vessels are in place to commence construction on time. Siemens Energy Sector companies are expected to supply wind turbines and offshore substations.
In the spring of this year, the consortium began a full spectrum of environmental surveys for the full 4GW as well as more detailed surveys for the first Gigawatt of wind farms planned for construction in 2014.The surveys include bird and mammal observations, geophysics, marine ecology and deployment of metocean measuring devices to record wind and waves.
The chairman of SMart Wind Andy Kinsella said:”As SMart Wind, Mainstream and Siemens Project Ventures (SPV) are fully committed to bringing the first Round 3 project successfully through the consents process and into commercial operation. Achieving grid connection for 2014 is a hugely significant step towards achieving this. At the same time the entire consortium remains very focused on reducing the cost of energy as this is vital to the long-term success of the industry.”
For more information contact:
Emmet Curley
Head of Communications
Mainstream Renewable Power
Tel: +353 (0)85 734 9946
Email: emmet.curley@mainstreamrp.com
