Nexans will provide up to 190km of inter-array cable rated at a maximum operating capacity of 72.5kV for the 752MW Borssele 1 and 2 offshore wind project in the Netherlands as part of the recently-announced contract .
The France-based cable manufacturer will produce three-phase 66kV copper cables with two cross-sections at its plant in Hanover, Germany, with the delivery expected in 2019.
Additionally, the company will provide the relevant fittings and accessories, including T-connectors for the cables, which will be produced at the Nexans Euromold facility in Erembodegem, Belgium.
Once Van Oord installs the cable some 22km from the coast of Zeeland, Nexans Subsea and Land Systems will complete the connection to the turbine bases using in-house jointing expertise.
“The Borssele wind farms will be the first time that Ørsted has used Nexans new 66 kV cables for its offshore wind farms. Operating at this increased voltage will result in lower losses than using array cabling at the normal 33 kV and 36 kV voltage level,” said Vincent Dessale , Senior Executive Vice President Subsea and Land Systems at Nexans.
“Nexans is proud to be the world’s only supplier that is currently able to equip this new generation of wind parks with a complete in-house portfolio of state-of-the-art cables and standardised connection solutions suitable for a maximum operating voltage of 72.5 kV.”
The Borssele 1 and 2 project will comprise 94 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines scheduled for full commissioning at the end of 2020.