The Inch Cape offshore wind project, located off the east coast of Scotland, took a key step towards its planned entry into operation by the end of 2026 with the successful installation of the first offshore export cable.
The 85 km long, 220 kV voltage cable was installed in three sections by Enshore Subsea, using the CMOS Installer laying vessel. The inter-span connection was made by the vessel North Sea Giant.
Large-scale infrastructure and defined timeline
The cable, manufactured by Orient Cable, has a cross-section of 2000 mm² and is among the largest of its kind in the world. Installation of the second export cable is scheduled for 2026.
At the same time, the installation of the marine substation platform has been completed and the first XXL monopiles have been received. XXL monopiles have been received at the Port of Leith, with a view to their installation next year alongside the jacket foundations.
Inch Cape’s energy capacity and objectives
With an installed capacity of 1.1 gigawatts (GW), the wind farm is designed to generate around 5 terawatt hours (TWh) annually. This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately half of Scotland’s households. It will be equipped with 72 Vestas V236 15 MW turbines, installation of which will begin in 2026.
The project will have an operations and maintenance base at Montrose Port, facilitating oversight during its planned 25-year life. The onshore and offshore infrastructure continues to be developed without delay, consolidating the schedule towards partial commissioning in 2026 and full commercial operation in 2027.
Source and photo: Inch Cape Offshore Limited