London Array

London Array
Name	London Array
Location	Thames Estuary, North Sea
Status	Operational
Construction	2009–2013
Commissioning	2013
Owner	Consortium (see Economics and Ownership)
Type	Offshore wind farm
Turbines	175 (initial)
Capacity	630 MW

London Array The London Array is a large offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary in the North Sea, commissioned in 2013. It was developed by a consortium including Equinor, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Shell plc, National Grid plc, E.ON, Dong Energy, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and CNPIC. The project links to regional energy networks such as National Grid ESO and facilities like Grays and Canvey Island.

Overview

The project is situated near Kent and Essex waters, close to Queenborough and Southend-on-Sea, and was one of the largest operational offshore wind farms on commissioning alongside Horns Rev, Walney Extension, Greater Gabbard, and East Anglia ONE. Its capacity contributes to targets set by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change and later Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The development interfaces with transmission assets such as the National Grid supergrid and connects to substations similar to Birkenhead and export infrastructure used by projects like West of Duddon Sands.

History and Development

Initial planning involved consortia including Kent County Council and Essex County Council consultations and environmental assessments submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and the Marine Management Organisation. The project required permissions under regulations overseen by Marine Scotland and European directives such as the Habitats Directive and consultations with groups including RSPB, WWF-UK, Natural England, English Nature and Kent Wildlife Trust. Financing negotiations occurred with institutions like the European Investment Bank, Bank of China representatives, Barclays, HSBC, and investors including Macquarie Group. Construction contracts were awarded to suppliers such as Siemens Gamesa, Vestas, GE Renewable Energy, and specialist contractors including Siemens, ABB, TechnipFMC, Boskalis, Van Oord, and Jan De Nul for foundations and cables. Legal and regulatory milestones referenced case law at High Court of Justice and consultations with Port of London Authority.

Design and Technical Specifications

The scheme employed offshore wind turbine generators supplied by manufacturers like Siemens Wind Power and foundations by fabricators such as Lamprell and Harland and Wolff. Turbines were monopile and jacket types installed using vessels similar to MPI Discovery and Rem Installer. Electrical systems included 132 kV offshore arrays, 400 kV onshore export substations and HVAC equipment comparable to Siemens Energy installations; subsea cables were laid by contractors analogous to Prysmian Group and Nexans. Design considerations referenced standards from DNV GL and BS EN codes, and incorporated meteorological modeling using tools from Met Office and hydrodynamic analyses by agencies like British Geological Survey.

Operation and Performance

Operational management involves asset operations centres, O&M bases akin to Port of Lowestoft and logistics coordinated with Trinity House vessel movements and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Performance metrics reported capacity factors comparable to Hornsea One and Greater Gabbard, with grid integration challenges addressed alongside National Grid ESO and interconnectors similar to IFA. Maintenance uses technicians trained by RenewableUK standards, and remote monitoring utilises SCADA systems from suppliers like Schneider Electric and ABB. The site faced turbine failures and wake effects studied in academic work from Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, and Cranfield University.

Environmental and Social Impact

Environmental assessments engaged organisations such as RSPB, WWF-UK, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Natural England, English Heritage, Historic England and marine bodies like Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFA S) and Marine Conservation Society. Impacts on species including Common seals, Harbour porpoise, gannet colonies at Heligoland style surveys, and migratory birds tracked relative to RSPB reserves were monitored. Socioeconomic effects involved local stakeholders like Kent County Council, Essex County Council, port communities of Gravesend and Tilbury, and supply chain benefits to firms such as Siemens, Sembcorp, ABB, and shipyards like Cammell Laird. Public engagement included consultations with groups like Friends of the Earth and local parish councils.

Economics and Ownership

Ownership has evolved among major energy companies and finance houses including Equinor, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Shell plc, National Grid plc, E.ON, Dong Energy (now Orsted), Masdar, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, CNPIC, Macquarie Group and institutional investors such as Legal & General and Aviva Investors. Revenue streams tied to Contracts for Difference (CfD) mechanisms under Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy policy frameworks and power purchase agreements with utilities like Centrica and traders such as EDF Energy and SSE plc. Capital expenditure and decommissioning liabilities referenced guidelines from International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and financing models used by European Investment Bank and private equity.

Future Plans and Upgrades

Potential upgrades consider repowering strategies similar to projects at Thanet and Gunfleet Sands, new turbines from Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, or Vestas, and enhanced grid connections coordinated with National Grid ESO and regional transmission operators. Proposals under discussion with regulators such as Ofgem include increased export capacity, battery storage integration like projects developed by Tesla, Inc. partners, and coordination with newer offshore arrays including Hornsea and Dogger Bank. Research collaborations with Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, University of Exeter and institutions like RenewableUK may inform biodiversity monitoring, wake optimization, and decommissioning plans.

Category:Wind farms in England