Supplying Subsea Cables to Welsh Offshore Wind Farm

Draka announces that it has been awarded the inter-array cabling contract for Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm, off the North Wales coast, from RWE npower renewables Ltd. The total value of the contract is more than € 25 million.

At 576MW Gwynt y Môr will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in construction, and is being built by RWE npower renewables. The project is a shared investment between partners RWE Innogy, Stadtwerke Munchen and Siemens. Once fully operational, energy generation from Gwynt y Môr is expected to be equivalent to the average annual needs of around 400,000 homes.

The Gwynt y Môr contract requires Draka to deliver approximately 148 km of three core 36 kV cable during 2012 and 2013, with a full range of cable accessories and logistical solutions. Production is expected to start in the second half of 2011.

Announcing the latest contract award, RWE npower renewables' Gwynt y Môr Project Director, Toby Edmonds said: "We're very pleased to welcome Draka on board with the Gwynt y Môr development, to provide the core inter-array cabling for the project. We have spent many months working closely with potential suppliers on the optimum design of the array cable network and we feel that Draka's expertise, flexibility and focus will be an important asset to the success of the project."

Martin Dale, commercial director for the Draka Offshore Division, commented: "In the past nine months, Draka has won contracts for three major offshore wind farms, won a design contract for a fourth and has recently supplied subsea power cables for tidal and wave energy in Scotland."

"The total order intake and factory load in the coming three years has exceeded our expectations and is a confirmation of the strength of Draka in this market segment. Draka has an outstanding reputation for delivering quality products and services, also in the subsea environment. This outstanding reputation has lead to a quick market entry for our new offshore wind inter-array products and services where we pride ourselves on close partnerships with our customers, essential for the satisfactory completion of each project", added Dale.

Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm is being constructed 13 km off the North Wales coast, in water depths of 12-28 metres, and was granted approval by DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) back in December 2008.

Construction of the €2billion Gwynt y Môr project began in November 2009 when work to prepare land at St Asaph for the construction of a new 132/400kV substation was carried out by North Wales civil engineering company Jones Bros. Turbine foundation installation is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2011, and is expected to last for approximately two years.