Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm, a major energy project being planned off the coast of Lincolnshire, will be taken forward by a new management team who will be working hand in hand with the Lincolnshire community, placing them very much at the heart of their approach.
The new team has been formed following the recently announced partnership between Statkraft and RWE Innogy, who are now joint owners of the Triton Knoll project, with Statkraft managing the development.
The Triton Knoll management team, led by James Cotter as Project Director, want to ensure Triton Knoll benefits the local area. An important part of this will be making sure that Lincolnshire-based companies are involved from the outset and well placed to bid for contracts should the project receive the necessary consents to progress. For the onshore cable works alone the combined contract packages will be worth up to £100 million.
Jon Darling, the Senior Project Manager who heads up supply chain engagement in the new team, said: “Over the coming months we want to step up our engagement with the supply chain and are focussed on making sure local companies are fully aware of the opportunities that are on the way. To support this we’ll be running a series of local events in early 2016 to provide information on the project and meet companies who could supply services. This is a very large infrastructure project, so you won’t be surprised to hear this includes supplying some large components, as well as a lot of civil engineering works – and I know there are businesses here with excellent skills that are keen to be involved. But what’s maybe less well known is that it also includes lots of other areas and smaller contracts, covering everything from local transport to supplying stationery and sandwiches.”
“Like any large project, some of the more specialist technical items are only made in a few places around the world, and we will have to buy some things overseas. But the ‘UK content’ in offshore wind farms is already over 40%, and the industry is well on track to be over 50% ‘Made in the UK’ by 2020. We’re determined to achieve this for Triton Knoll”.
Together with opportunities for local businesses, there are also opportunities for employment. The offshore wind sector has already generated 13,000 UK jobs, mostly along the east coast, and the new project team wants to make sure Lincolnshire residents can be at the heart of these new opportunities.
James Cotter, Triton Knoll Project Director said: “We hope to work with local schools to bring the engineering sector to life through events such as education days. Working with our joint venture partners – Statkraft and RWE – we’ll look at opportunities for work experience for young people, and we’re also keen to offer the opportunity to meet the team and visit one of our wind farms that’s already built, to see how they work.”
“When we look at timescales for Triton Knoll and other new offshore wind farms, it’s clear that a key group we need to target are children in secondary schools. Young people around the age of 13 and 14 are exactly the age group who will be able to take on apprenticeships when the project becomes operational. It’s important we begin to get them involved and enthused about the opportunities – so they can benefit from a career in the offshore wind industry – and see how subjects such as maths and science subjects at GCSE are relevant in the real world.”
Alongside building awareness of the economic opportunities the project could deliver for Lincolnshire, the team is keen to work with local communities to address any concerns and explain what can be can done to minimise any disruption the construction work might cause.
Sharn Ward, newly appointed Project Services Manager for Triton Knoll, who is responsible for planning and stakeholder management for the project, said: “I grew up in Lincolnshire and still have family in the area, so I’m extremely focussed on making sure the local community have all of the information they need and that any outstanding concerns are addressed. The project has already run many formal and informal consultation events with local residents, landowners and parish councils but there are still opportunities to engage both throughout the examination process and outside it. I’m going to lead some drop in sessions in the New Year where I’m keen to further develop the relationship with our neighbours, understand any concerns and lay the foundations for what I am confident is a great project.”
The Triton Knoll Electrical System application is currently being examined by the National Planning Inspectorate. The 10th November marks the start of the first round of examination hearings, including site visits to landowners properties by the examiners and open floor hearings, which provide a great opportunity for local residents to have their views heard by the decision makers. The hearings continue until 19th November and members of the Triton Knoll project team will be in attendance throughout to listen and work to address any concerns.
Ends
Contact
Kimberley Daye – UK Communications Manager Statkraft
M: 07920 260 795
E: Kimberley.daye@statkraft.com
Editors notes
About Statkraft
Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, gas power and district heating and is a global player in energy market operations.
Statkraft has 4200 employees in more than 20 countries.
Since 2006, Statkraft has invested £1.4 billion in the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure and provided 2.5 GW of renewable energy Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s)
For further information about Statkraft visit www.statkraft.com
About RWE Innogy
RWE Innogy pools the renewable energy expertise and generating plant of the RWE Group, and currently has 3.1GW of renewable capacity in operation.
RWE Innogy is fully committed to growth in renewable energy across Europe and the UK continues to play a significant role.
RWE Innogy UK is the UK subsidiary of RWE Innogy and one of the UK’s leading renewable energy developers and operators. We are committed to developing and operating renewable energy projects to produce sustainable electricity.
For further information about RWE Innogy UK and RWE Innogy visit www.rweinnogy.com/uk and
www.rweinnogy.com