Energy sector and planning law experts from Bristol-headquartered law firm Burges Salmon have advised the developers of one of the UK’s largest planned offshore wind farms pass a vital milestone.
The Burges Salmon team have secured consent for the Triton Knoll scheme’s electrical system – paving the way for it to move to the next stage of its development. 
The 900MW Triton Knoll project off the East Coast has the potential to power 800,000 homes. The £4bn scheme could also create 1,900 jobs for the Humber area during its construction and, if given the green light, could start producing electricity by 2020.
A joint venture between Swindon-based RWE Innogy UK and Norwegian state-owned Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, it could have up to 288 turbines in an area 33km (20 miles) off the Lincolnshire coast.
The Development Consent Order (DCO) for its electrical system was granted by Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Greg Clark last week.
The electrical system will include onshore and offshore cables, a compound to provide voltage stability and compensate for electrical losses, and an onshore substation near the point the cables connect to the grid.
The Burges Salmon team, led by planning team partner Liz Dunn, advised on the consenting of the project including securing a direction from the Secretary of State to bring it within the DCO regime. 
Liz, pictured, said: “We are pleased to have assisted [RWE] innogy SE and Statkraft in securing consent for the Triton Knoll Electrical System. We believe that this is still the longest linear NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) to date and further reinforces our strong track record in consenting these projects.”
RWE’s Triton Knoll consent manager Kim Gauld-Clark said: “Liz and her team assisted us throughout the consenting process. We enjoyed working with Burges Salmon and I particularly valued their clear and practical advice and their experience in this area.”
RWE and Statkraft are now expected to bid for a price support contract in the government’s upcoming auction for offshore wind Contracts for Difference.
RWE Innogy UK, formerly called RWE Npower Renewables, plans, builds, and operates wind and hydro power schemes. It is a subsidiary of German utility giant RWE Innogy, which also owns Npower in the UK.
