Atkins designs on Triton Knoll

UK engineering consultancy Atkins is to design the monopile foundations for Innogy’s 860MW Triton Knoll offshore wind farm off the UK east coast.

Atkins has been subcontracted by the foundation supplier – a joint venture between Smulders and Sif – to design 90 monopiles for the MHI Vestas V164-9.5MW turbines and two structures for the offshore substations.

The consultancy said the design contract will advance the technological capability in the UK market. 

Atkins market lead for offshore engineering Andy Thompson said: “Bigger turbines create different engineering challenges; given Triton Knoll is the first offshore wind farm to use the V164-9.5MW turbine, we’re taking a unique approach to addressing the design questions posed by the project, drawing on all our previous offshore experience, in both wind and oil and gas.

“This is an important project for us, and helps Atkins maintain the momentum we’ve already built in pushing engineering design boundaries.”

Innogy foundations package manager for Triton Knoll Richard Hughes said: “It’s very exciting to know that UK engineering expertise will be at the heart of driving the design of a monopile foundation which has the potential to be lighter than any currently installed in comparable site conditions, so helping to deliver cost reductions at Triton Knoll.”

Triton Knoll was awarded a Contract For Difference in September 2017 and is now progressing towards a financial investment decision, which is likely in 2018.

Onshore construction would start shortly after, with offshore construction kicking off in 2020. 

First power from the project could be as early as the first quarter of 2021.

Image: reNEWS