Renewables trenching contract for ESS
Scotland-based Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) is to carry out pre-cut seabed trenching prior to Prysmian Group’s cable laying on the Wikinger offshore windfarm – the second Baltic Sea renewables project for ESS.
The 350 MW Wikinger project, which is located in the north east of the island of Reugen, is Iberdrola’s first offshore project in Germany. The windfarm will have 70 turbines and an offshore substation, generating enough energy to power more than 350,000 German homes.
Using its versatile SCAR Seabed System, ESS will perform first pass and multi-pass trenching in preparation for Prysmian’s installation and burial of 81km of submarine cables which will connect the 70 turbines to the offshore substation.
“Our previous experience of boulder clearance and trenching on the Baltic 2 windfarm has proven the versatility of the SCAR system and in particular its suitability for the soils in this region,” said Keith McDermott, commercial director, ESS.
“Whilst our SCAR technology was originally designed for oil and gas sector projects, we have steadily built up a reputation in the renewables industry for being able to provide a robust, cost effective option for major cable-laying workscopes, helping reduce the levelised cost of energy production,” he added.
Ecosse says it expects to mobilise from Aberdeen in mid-2016 and has already started pre-engineering work at its Banchory headquarters near Aberdeen.
Going forward, the company says it expects SCAR to be an “attractive option” for other developers and installation contractors in the coming years.
By Rachael Doyle
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