Works on connecting Race Bank wind farm’s offshore cables to the ones on land at a landfall site north of Sutton Bridge should start this month, DONG Energy reported in its project newsletter.
Landfall works will be done with a specific approach, since the area comprises a saltmarsh and a sea defence bank. DONG Energy has developed the site-specific approach together with specialist contractors Mott MacDonald and Jan De Nul.
Following sea defence preparation works, two cable laying machines, designed by Jan De Nul and called Sunfish and Moonfish, will arrive on a barge to lay and install both the East and West cables. The installation of each of the cables will last for five days.
Sunfish will track toward the sea defence whilst laying cable rollers. Once it reaches the foot of the sea defence, it will pull the cable from the offshore barge toward the sea defence with the help of a winch. It will then return offshore to the barge, while simultaneously installing the cable 1.5 metres below ground level.
When Sunfish reaches Moonfish in the intertidal area, it will temporarily return to the barge to await the laying of the second cable, while Moonfish will continue to install the cable across the intertidal mudflats.
Onshore construction for the Race Bank offshore wind project began in early 2015 with an onshore substation and the onshore cable works, which are now nearing completion.
The offshore wind farm, which will consist of up to 91 wind turbines, is located almost 17 miles off Blakeney Point on the North Norfolk Coast.
Offshore construction is due to begin later this year and the project is expected to become operational in 2018.