JDR Inter-Array Cables for Largest Wind Farm Project Off Belgium

JDR Cables, part of the TFKable, has signed a contract with DEME Offshore for the SeaMade offshore wind farm.

JDR will design, manufacture and deliver 78.1 kilometres of aluminium core inter-array cables and a range of cable accessories, including repair joints and connectors.

The inter-array cables connecting the 58 Siemens 8.4MW turbines, will carry clean generated electricity to an offshore substation for transmission to the offshore grid. The offshore wind power generated is transmitted by a 33kV cable system with hang-offs and connector terminations for 128 cable ends.

The cable will be assembled in JDR’s Hartlepool facility, with delivery expected by the end of 2019.

The SeaMade offshore wind farm is located up to 50 kilometres off the coast from Ostend and will integrate two wind sites known as Mermaid and Seastar.

The 487MW project is the single largest wind farm being funded and built in Belgium. When fully operational, the wind farm will supply renewable energy to 485,000 houses in Belgium and offset 700,000t of CO2 emissions a year.

The project, operated by SeaMade, which is a consortium of Otary RS (70% stake), Electrabel (17.5%), and Eneco Wind Belgium (12.5%) is expected to be operational by 2020.