Lincolnshire-based company Allen Archaeology is currently carrying out a series of rapid walkover surveys at selected locations along the route of the Triton Knoll onshore cable corridor.
The survey aims to record any archaeological earthwork features, principally related to any ridge and furrow surviving in areas of pasture.
The survey consists of small teams of two or three people using hand held equipment to monitor potential and known earthworks. Where necessary, they are also arranging for further, more detailed topographical surveys, in order to better understand the archaeological features which are identified.
Towards the end of October, a team from Allen Archaeology will also be starting metal detector surveys, at specific, previously identified locations along the cable route. Depending on what they find, the team may then need to carry out some minor hand-trowel digging excavations, in order to better identify any artefacts uncovered.
In addition to these surveys, Allen Archaeology is continuing to undertake a programme of archaeological trial trenching along the route of the onshore cable route and at the onshore substation site.
The 860MW Triton Knoll project will comprise 90 MHI Vestas V164-9.5 MW turbines installed off the coast of Lincolnshire.
Last month, the GBP 2 billion project, a joint venture between innogy and Statkraft, was awarded a Contract for Difference (CfD) at a strike price of GBP 74.75/MWh.
The final investment decision for the project is expected by mid-2018, after which innogy will become the sole owner of the project.
Onshore construction is scheduled to start next year and offshore works are expected to commence in 2020. The project will be built in three phases, with the commissioning starting in 2021. The project is anticipated to be fully operational in 2022.