Renewable energy company Ørsted is to hold a series of community events in North East Lincolnshire and East Lindsey so local people can find out more about the onshore cabling works for its latest offshore wind farm.
Hornsea Two is in the early stages of construction and when complete in 2022 will be the biggest offshore wind farm in the world, capable of powering well over 1.3 million UK homes. It will be located 89km out to sea alongside its sister project Hornsea One.
Although the wind farm is located out to sea, the clean electricity needs to be carried onshore to a substation, where it will be connected to the National Grid, before reaching millions of homes across the UK.
The 39km onshore cable route runs from Horseshoe Point, east of Tetney, to the substation site in North Killingholme, adjacent to the Hornsea One substation. Works will be undertaken by Lancashire-based VolkerInfra.
The events will take place from 30 January to 4 February in South Killingholme, Waltham and Tetney, and both Ørsted and VolkerInfra will be in attendance to provide information on the cable route and details on how the cable will be installed. The works are expected to begin in March 2019.
Duncan Clark, Project Director for both Hornsea One and Two, said: “We’ve been building offshore wind farms in the UK for over ten years and we know from experience how important it is to make sure local residents, businesses and stakeholders are up to date with our plans, and that they have the opportunity to ask both us and our contractors any questions.”
“Following our community exhibition last July, these information events will focus specifically on plans for the onshore cable works including environmental aspects, methods of installation and traffic management.”
“I really encourage any local residents, members of Parish Councils and local businesses along the cable route to attend these events if they can. Meeting and speaking with someone directly from the project team means that people can ask specifically about what the works mean for them and learn more about this world-leading project that I hope people in the area will be proud of.”
Ørsted is constructing a multi-million pound offshore wind operations and maintenance centre in Grimsby, the largest of its kind in the UK, and places great importance on engaging with local communities. As well as regular updates through newsletters and online, a dedicated community liaison officer has been appointed so members of the public have a direct line to the project. Ørsted also donates £465,000 each year, via the East Coast Community Fund, which is allocated to projects up and down the East England coast.
