Van Oord to supply foundations, array cables for 1.4-GW wind park off UK

Germany's RWE AG (ETR:RWE) has picked Van Oord as the preferred supplier of monopile foundations and array cables for the 1.4-GW Sofia wind project in UK waters, the Dutch marine contractor said on Thursday.

Van Oord will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the 100 extended monopile foundations without transition pieces using its offshore installation vessel Aeolus, while the cable-laying vessel Nexus will be used for 350 km (217 miles) of array cables.

The foundations and array cables will be fabricated by another company contracted by Van Oord. The Dutch company expects to start its work on the project after RWE takes final investment decision, expected in the first quarter of 2021. Installation is seen to take place in 2024.

The new wind farm will be located 195 kilometres (121.2 miles) off the coast on Dogger Bank in the shallow area of the central North Sea. The wind park is expected to be commissioned in 2025 and to produce enough electricity for over 1.2 million households. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE) has been chosen as turbine supplier, while Italy’s Prysmian SpA (BIT:PRY) will be responsible for cable connection.

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