AMS Trenchless Specialists Scores Hornsea Two Onshore Gig

Ørsted has contracted AMS Trenchless Specialists to conduct part of the onshore cable works for the Hornsea Project Two offshore wind farm in the UK.

AMS Trenchless Specialists will conduct Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) at the landfall site in Horseshoe Point where the offshore cables meet the onshore cables under the more than GBP 1 million worth contract.

Using HDD means that the cable can be buried underground without using trenches or disrupting the existing sea defenses in the intertidal area that links the offshore and onshore infrastructure, Ørsted said.

According to the Danish company, the works are expected to start in May and continue until September.

“We’re delighted to welcome another UK firm to join us in building the UK’s largest renewable energy project currently under construction,” said Duncan Clark, Project Director for Hornsea One and Two.

“Lancashire-based VolkerInfra are installing the onshore cable, the onshore substation is being built by Balfour Beatty, and the fact that AMS Trenchless Specialists, who are based literally up the road from our onshore site, will be working with us again is a testament to their previous work on Hornsea One.”

The contract follows the companies’ previous cooperation on Hornsea Project One, where AMS No-Dig designed, supplied and installed cable ducts.

“We feel proud to again have the opportunity to work on a project that will make a significant difference to the UK’s clean electricity system. HDD is a fast, efficient and environmentally friendly way to install this much needed infrastructure, whilst minimising disruption,” said George Aitkenhead, Managing Director at AMS Trenchless Specialists.

The 1.4GW Hornsea Two is located 89km north-east of Grimsby and will comprise 165 Siemens Gamesa 8MW turbines. Once operational in 2022, it will become the largest wind farm in the world.