Abnormal load to be escorted for offshore wind farm

Abnormal loads linked to the construction of an offshore wind farm will make their way through the county on Sunday.

The transformer, which weighs up to 272 tonnes, will be escorted by Norfolk Police from the Port of King's Lynn in Norfolk to the Orsted Onshore Converter Station in Swardeston from 06:00 BST on Sunday.

Hornsea Three, located 74 miles (120km) off the Norfolk coast, will generate enough green electricity to power more than three million homes.

Orsted said the movements have taken place on Sundays to reduce the impact on traffic and maintain safe operating conditions.

The load will travel along the A47 through Swaffham and Dereham.

Street furniture including illuminated bollards and traffic signals will be removed and replaced once the transformer has passed and a maximum speed limit of up to 10mph (16 km/h )will be in place.

A total of nine transformers have or are yet to be moved through the county with the loads travelling through the county again on Sunday 14 June and Sunday 28 June.

Construction on the site has seen the start of installing 197 monopiles off the Norfolk coast, which will be the foundation of a wind turbine.

The monopiles are piled into the seabed and enable the turbine to spin and generate electricity.

Each one weighs up an average of 1,670 tonnes and is 90m (295ft) in length with installation estimated to be completed into 2027.

Luke Bridgman, managing director at Hornsea Three at Orsted, said: "The installation of Hornsea Three's first monopile is a proud moment for us and is down to the expertise and hard work of our dedicated team.

"Having the first of 197 monopiles safely installed is a landmark moment. Hornsea Three will be in the world's single largest offshore wind farm and shows how Orsted and the UK continue to be leaders in the offshore wind industry."

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