Lynn

Lynn and Inner Dowsing Wind Farms Profile

Location

The Lynn and Inner Dowsing wind farms are located in the North Sea, approximately 5 kilometers off the coast of Lincolnshire, England, specifically near the towns of Skegness and Ingoldmells.

Development and Ownership

• The projects were initially developed as separate entities by AMEC and Renewable Energy Systems but were later acquired by Centrica Renewable Energy in 2003 and merged into a single development.
• In 2009, TCW acquired a 50% stake in the wind farm from Centrica. Later, in 2016, Centrica and EIG Global Energy Partners sold the wind farm to a consortium consisting of the Green Investment Bank (51%) and BlackRock (49%).

Capacity and Turbines

• The wind farms collectively have a maximum output of 194.4 MW, generated by 54 Siemens Wind Power SWT-3.6-107 turbines, each with a 3.6 MW nameplate capacity.

Construction

• Construction began in 2006 and was completed in 2008, with the project being fully commissioned in March 2009.
• Key contractors included:
  • Siemens Wind Power for the turbines.
  • MT Hojgaard for the installation of offshore foundations.
  • Nexans for the supply of inter-array and export cabling.
  • Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution for the onshore substation and associated switchgear.
  • Ode as the project manager on behalf of Centrica.

Foundations and Infrastructure

• The turbines are installed on fixed monopile foundations, which were driven into the chalk soils using large hydraulic hammers. Some drilling was necessary to reach the desired depth.
• The onshore civil engineering work, including the construction of a substation near Skegness and the laying of onshore cables, was completed by 2007.

Operations and Maintenance

• The wind farms are operated by the current owners, with maintenance contracts awarded to various companies. For example, Siemens replaced bearings on all turbines in 2011 due to corrosion issues, and ABB was awarded a maintenance contract for electrical equipment in 2015. Cofely Fabricom GDF Suez was contracted for general repairs and structural modifications.
• Centrica established a maintenance base for the wind farm at No.3 Fish Dock at the Port of Grimsby in 2012.

Environmental Impact

• The wind farms provide enough clean energy to power approximately 130,000 households and offset around 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

Financial Details

• The initial project cost was estimated at €349 million (approximately £300 million).
• In 2016, the sale of the wind farm to the Green Investment Bank and BlackRock was valued at around £423 million, including the 26MW onshore Glens of Foudland wind farm.

Technical Specifications

• The turbines have a three-blade cantilevered rotor with a height of 107 meters. The power output is controlled by pitch regulation, and the rotor speed is variable to maximize aerodynamic efficiency. The turbines operate automatically, self-starting at wind speeds of about 3–5 m/s and shutting down at speeds exceeding 25 m/s.

Power Purchase Agreement

• The power generated from the project is sold to British Gas under a power purchase agreement for a period of 15 years.

Capacity Factor

• The capacity factor of the wind farm has been between 31% and 36% in the first four years of full operation.