Nexans Will Install Cable for Belgian Offshore Windfarm

Nexans, a major cable provider, said yesterday they had signed a contract to become the cable supplier for the Belwind Offshore Windfarm proposal. The project, set to be constructed in Belgium by Dutch EPC contractor, will submit wind harnessed electricity to 165,000 Belgian residences through the Nexans-supplied subsea power export cables once completed.

Nexans announced that the contract was valued at 39 million Euros in which the company will supply all the cabling needed for the first phase of the windfarm. In total, the company has been contracted to supply 52km of 170kV power cables which will export high voltage electricity using optical fibre technology. The company has also retained the installation contract as well. 

Once installed the cables will join the 165 MW windfarm to the Belgian power grid. In total the windfarm will house 55 wind turbines harnessing energy from the Bligh Bank region located 46km off Zeebrugge’s coastline. All 55 turbines will be supplied by Vestas for the windfarm.

 Nexans’ C/S Nexans Skagerrak, a specially designed ship for cable laying, will be used to complete the installation on the project. Additionally Nexans’ CapJet trenching system will be used to transfer the cable from the C/S Nexans Skagerrak onto the seabed and buried and secured in the seafloor.  

The contract has detailed a summer delivery set for 2010, and it is anticipated that the windfarm will be open and operational sometime in 2011.