Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm
Construction Information - Noise

Installation of the offshore wind turbine foundations started on Friday 10th October, the construction being undertaken by DONG Energy Gunfleet Sands Ltd. The 48 steel wind turbine foundations are 50 metres long and 5 metres in diameter and weigh 400 tonnes each; they are being driven 40 metres into the seabed (called piling), which takes between 2 and 4 hours.

Unfortunately, piling is a noisy process; it is never quiet but sometimes it is noisier than others.
During still nights with light wind and low cloud the noise can travel further and will therefore be more disturbing for some residents. The ground conditions encountered on the first night's piling were harder than expected therefore the piling process was noisier. Piling won't always happen at night, but the whole process is a 24-hour operation and is tide-led. It is repeated on a 3 to 5 day cycle with the piling element taking 2 to 4 hours within that cycle.

We have received a few concerns from residents in the Holland-on-Sea and Clacton on Sea area, and we will be monitoring noise levels. We will be meeting with DONG energy towards the end of this month to discuss the results of the noise monitoring.

Our Environmental Services team are working closely with the contractors to try to minimise disturbance to residents from this exciting development in sustainable energy. If, however, you would like to comment on the construction works please contact Environmental Services on 01255 686767, email: environmental.services@tendringdc.gov.uk or outside office hours, please contact Tendring Careline on 01255 222727.

If you wish to contact the DONG Energy Gunfleet Sands project team, please address your concern to:
Peter N Sills
Communications Manager
Gunfleet Sands Limited
DONG Energy A/S
Oliver's Wharf
Copperas Road
Brightlingsea
Essex CO7 0AR

Or email: peter@sillson.com

Useful links:

British Wind Energy Association

Dong Energy