The Lynn & Inner Dowsing project for Centrica is two separate wind farms, built at the same time, 5 km off the Lincolnshire coast of England. The wind farms were consented in 2003. With a total export capacity of 180 MW, the two farms will generate power for more than 130,000 homes. Centrica signed MT Højgaard to be the contractor for the project which faced a special challenge. This would be the first project where monopiles would be driven into hard chalk layers. MT Højgaard called on MENCK to handle drivability studies. Could piles be driven in this type of soil? MENCK said yes! On April 16th, 2006 MENCK successfully drove a test pile in the hard chalk layer to a depth of 25.5 m. A year later, on April 25th, 2007 installation of the 54 x 4.74 m OD monopiles began and lasted until November. This project was also the debut for MENCK’s new MHU 1900S in use with two MHP 1600 power packs and two hose winches. MENCK proved that piles could be driven in such soil conditions.

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