Thorntonbank Wind Farm
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The Thorntonbank Wind Farm is an offshore wind farm, 28 km (17 mi) off the Belgian coast, in water ranging from 12 to 27 metres (39 to 89 ft) deep. Electricity production started in early 2009, with a capacity of 30 MW. [1] The capacity is expected to be increased gradually to 300 MW in 2015.
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[edit] Phases
The project is made of three phases.
[edit] First phase
The first phase was built by C-Power and consists of six REpower offshore wind turbines of 5 MW capacity on the Thornton sandbank, at a cost of €153 million.[2] It was commissioned in June 2009.[3][4] A 37 km 150 kV undersea cable connects the Thorntonbank Wind Farm to the shore.[5]
The first phase of what will ultimately be a 325 MW wind farm was completed in September 2008. The six REpower 5M turbines, which were installed on concrete gravity foundations, were linked to the Belgian power grid, giving a total rated capacity of 30 MW for the first stage.[6] The full story of the design, engineering, construction and installation of the Thorntonbank Wind Farm (first phase) is told in an illustrated book that was published in November 2010.[7]
[edit] Second phase
In this phase 24 additional wind turbines of 6.15MWp will be installed to raise capacity a further 147.6 MW, bringing the total installed capacity up to almost 180 MW.[3]
[edit] Third phase
In the third and last phase, a further 150 MW will be installed, bringing the total capacity to around 325 MW.[3]
[edit] Environmental assessment
To assess the environmental impact C-Power has enlisted the assistance of the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO [8]) and the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO [9]) to obtain the most detailed possible information on the occurrence of these animal species at Thornton Bank and to assess the possible impact of a wind farm on them.[10]
How the Wind Farms impact on the landscape will be studied by WES-Onderzoek & Advies, who were also involved in earlier research in connection with the perceived impact on the landscape of near shore wind farms.[10]
Offshore wind farms may have an impact on sea fishing. Certain areas may be closed to commercial fishing, as a result of which the total area that can be fished is reduced, but new habitats may also be created as a result. The basis for this study is a thorough investigation of the importance of the Thornton Bank for sea fishing.[10]
Offshore wind farms create new structures at sea and by definition they therefore pose an additional risk to the safety of shipping. C-Power has, however, chosen a location which is a long way from the most important shipping routes so that this risk can be reduced to a minimum. C-Power will be calling upon the specialised knowledge of German consultants Germanischer Lloyd.[10]
[edit] Financing
Thorntonbank was only the second offshore wind farm to be Project Financed.[11]
[edit] Gallery
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Wind turbine D1
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Wind turbines D1 to D6
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Wind turbine bases under construction
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Wind turbine bases under construction
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.c-power.be/Nederlands/welkom/algemene_info.html
- ^ Thorntonbank (Belgium) offshore wind farm 4C . Retrieved: 27 October 2010.
- ^ a b c REpower turbines to Thornton Bank offshore wind farm expansion Renewable Energy Focus, 26 November 2010. Accessed: 13 October 2011.
- ^ Thornton Bank Offshore Project Officially Commissioned Renewable Energy World, 2 July 2009. Accessed: 13 October 2011.
- ^ Final kick off for the 300 MW wind farm in front of the Belgian coast
- ^ "Renewable Energy World Article" (in English). http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/07/thornton-bank-offshore-project-officially-commissioned. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
- ^ Jan Strubbe, "Reuzen in de Wind - Het windmolenpark op de Thorntonbank", Tielt (Belgium), 2009, ISBN 978-90-209-8349-4
- ^ INBO
- ^ ILVO
- ^ a b c d Environmental impact
- ^ "C-Power Financing Article Article" (in English). http://www.c-power.be/applet_mernu_nl/welkom/artikels/080306-ProjectFinance.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-03.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Thornton Bank wind farm |
- Official Website
- Video of the wind turbine foundations under construction on YouTube
- LORC Knowledge - Datasheet for Thornton Bank 1
Coordinates: 51°38′39″N 2°55′38″E / 51.64417°N 2.92722°E
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