The second of two 220 kV three-phase export cables was installed in three 28-kilometer sections by Enshore Subsea using cable lay vessel CMOS Installer operating out of the Port of Blyth. It required two offshore joints which were carried out by jointing specialists onboard Normand Cutter and was buried in the seabed using hybrid trenching vehicle ENS1100, with some final rock placement to come.
The two parallel cables will transmit power from the 1.1-gigawatt wind farm’s offshore substation platform to its new onshore substation at Cockenzie, East Lothian then onto the national grid. The cables will be energized over the coming weeks in advance of first power toward the end of this year.
John Hill, Inch Cape Project Director said: “The completion of this crucial link between the offshore and onshore substations is another major achievement for the project and testament to the excellent collaboration between the Inch Cape team and our contractors, particularly Orient Cable and Enshore Subsea. The successful finalisation of this scope builds on our solid progress as we now enter the next phases of offshore construction.”
Pierre Boyde, Enshore Subsea CEO, said: “We’re proud of the Enshore Subsea team whose attention to detail and commitment, alongside the support of our project partners, have enabled us to successfully deliver this major milestone.
“It demonstrates Enshore’s ability to fast-track complex projects, our strength in shallow-water operations, and the excellent performance of ENS1100, our latest hybrid trencher, purpose-built for the project. It has been a privilege to work with the Inch Cape team and we look forward to continuing that collaboration as the project goes into its important final steps.”
The 2000 mm² cable was manufactured by Ningbo Orient Wires & Cables Co. Ltd (Orient Cable) and is among the largest AC export cables in the world, weighing almost 140 tonnes per kilometer. A total of 170 kilometers of cable has been installed.
Inch Cape recently completed its monopile and transition piece installation and current offshore activity includes array cable laying by new-build vessel Altera and jacket foundation pin pile installation by Alfa Lift. The components for the project’s 15-megawatt turbines are being delivered to the Port of Dundee in advance of tower assembly and offshore installation.
The project remains on track for full commercial operations in 2027.
Inch Cape is owned in a 50/50 equal joint venture by ESB and Red Rock Renewables, and once complete will generate almost five terawatt hours (TWh) of energy each year or enough to power half of the homes in Scotland.
