JDR to supply inter-array cable for Sandbank offshore wind farm

Offshore technology provider JDR has secured a supply contract from VBMS for the 288MW Sandbank offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

Under the contract, JDR will design and manufacture 105km long inter-array cable, including a new coilable 630mm2 copper core cable for the wind farm.

The wind farm, which is expected to cost €1.2bn, is being jointly developed by Vattenfall and the city of Munich public utility Stadtwerke München.

Scope of the contract also includes the supply of pulling grips, hang-offs, connectors, cable cleats and subsea repair joints.

JDR will manufacture the cables at its Hartlepool facility.

JDR executive chairman Pat Herbert said: "Sandbank is JDR’s third German wind farm win and another important step forward in the development of offshore wind energy in Northern Europe.

"The Sandbank project will utilise our new 630mm2 copper core inter-array cable, part of the growing range of JDR inter-array options. This cable’s coilable design is another JDR initiative to help drive down cost as it supports greater flexibility in vessel selection and storage solutions."

The Sandbank wind farm will be built 90km west of the Sylt island in water depths between 25m and 37m within the exclusive economic zone off the German North Sea coast.

It will employ 72 units of Siemens’ SWT-4.0-130 turbines and will generate 1.4TWh of energy, which is enough to power around 400,000 homes annually.

Construction on the wind farm is scheduled for 2015, with plans to commission the project in 2017.