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First two Neart na Gaoithe export cables installed

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 18/06/2021 NNG Offhshore Wind
The first of two export cables for the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, each 37 kilometres in length, has been installed nearshore of Thorntonloch Beach.

These electricity transmission cables will connect
Neart na Gaoithe's two offshore platforms to its onshore substation, located in the Lammermuir Hills.

The offshore cable was transported to the nearshore area of Thorntonloch Beach by Prysmian Group’s cable-laying vessel, the 124 metre long
Cable Enterprise.

The onshore winch cable was pulled through a 650 metre long horizontal directional drill duct and connected to the offshore cable situated on the deck of the vessel, 1km from shore. The offshore cable was then directed back through the duct towards onshore where it will be connected to the onshore cables behind Thorntonloch Beach.

The
Cable Enterprise will lay the offshore cable from the nearshore of Thorntonloch Beach to the site of the wind farm. The cables will be buried to protect them from damage. Prysmian, one of Neart na Gaoithe's tier one contractors, expect the second offshore cable to be installed in July.

Matthias Haag, NnG Project Director, said: “The installation of the first of our two offshore cables is a significant milestone in the construction of NnG.


“These two 37km cables will play a pivotal role in connecting our two offshore platforms to the onshore substation over in the Lammermuir Hills.


“We’re grateful to all our neighbours in and around the Throntonloch area for their patience as we carry out these vital construction works nearshore.”


Massimo Galletta, Project Director (NnG) at Prysmian Group, said: “We are proud of being selected for such a strategic project, proving our state-of-the-art cable technology, know-how and project execution expertise to support the growing renewable energy industry.”

The 450 MW
Neart na Gaoithe wind farm is owned by EDF Renewables and ESB. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate electricity for around 375,000 homes, or all domestic properties in a city the size of Edinburgh, and to displace 400,000 tons of CO2 annually. LCCC awarded it a CfD in February 2015, with a strike price of £114.39/MWh. The first commercial supply of electricity is expected by 2023.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

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