DONG Energy has placed contracts with three different UK companies for the array cables at its 580MW Race Bank offshore wind farm, marking the first time this Denmark-based energy company is using UK suppliers for the entire provision, installation and protection of array cables at one of its offshore wind farms.
The array cables for Race Bank will be supplied by JDR from its base in Hartlepool. The installation of the cables will be undertaken by DeepOcean, which is located in Darlington. The cable protection system will be supplied by Newton Aycliffe based company Tekmar.
“We are very committed to investing in UK suppliers wherever possible, and it’s great to see three different UK-based firms contributing to a vital part of our Race Bank offshore wind farm,” Brent Cheshire, DONG Energy’s UK Country Chairman, said.
“When operational, Race Bank will power over half a million homes every year so it’s a significant project. To have the whole array cable system installed and supplied by UK companies is a first for us, and is hugely encouraging for the UK supply chain.”
The production of the array cables is now underway and installation is expected to start later this year. The whole array cable system should be completed by mid-2017.
Race Bank is located almost 17 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk Coast, and a similar distance from the Lincolnshire coast at Chapel St. Leonards. It will consist of 91 6MW wind turbines, with Siemens Wind Power chosen as the preferred supplier for the delivery of these turbines.