The Inch Cape offshore wind project, located 15 kilometers off the coast of Angus in the North Sea, has reached a key milestone with the installation of the first offshore export cable, one of two to be installed. This 85-kilometer-long infrastructure, manufactured by Orient Cable, will be instrumental in transporting power to the mainland.
The three-phase, 220 kV cable was laid in three 28-kilometer sections from the specialized vessel CMOS Installeroperated by Enshore Subsea from the port of Blyth. This connection will allow the power generated by the 1.1 GW wind farm to be transferred to the onshore substation under construction at Cockenzie, East Lothian.
Offshore export cable installation
To ensure continuity of the cable on the seabed, two subsea joints were made using the vessel North Sea Giant. The cable was then buried under the seabed for protection. This component, with a cross-section of 2000 mm², is among the highest capacity AC cables installed worldwide.
The installation of the second export cable is scheduled for 2026, also by Enshore Subsea, replicating the same three-span scheme. With this, the project completes its onshore subsea transmission infrastructure.
Coordination among key players in the marine sector
The execution of this phase was made possible thanks to the collaboration between Inch Cape Offshore Limited, Enshore Subsea and Orient Cable. John Hill, the project manager, highlighted the relevance of this phase as the link that will connect the future offshore substation with the onshore infrastructure.
For his part, Pierre Boyde, CEO of Enshore Subsea, emphasized the complexity and safety of the procedure performed.
Road to commercial operation in 2027
The wind farm Inch Cape wind farm is a joint venture between Ireland’s ESB and Red Rock Renewables, each with a 50% stake. It is currently in the offshore construction phase, with the offshore substation platform already installed and the first monopiles in place. first monopiles delivered to the Port of Leith.
Over the next year, jacket foundations will be installed jacket foundations will be installed and the first of 72 Vestas 15 MW turbines will be deployed. The project is expected to start generating power by the end of 2026 and reach full commercial operation in 2027, supplying approximately half of Scotland’s homes with clean energy.
Source and photo: Inch Cape
