Galloper Wind Farm Limited (GWFL) has started preparing a section of Sizewell beach in Suffolk for the installation of the export cables that will bring the power generated from the 336MW Galloper offshore wind farm to the onshore substation that will connect to the National Grid.
Work is also continuing at the substation construction site north of Sizewell Gap Road and offshore, surveys are continuing, GWFL said.
Toby Edmonds, Project Director of Galloper Wind Farm Limited said: “In March, our team started work on Sizewell beach, preparing for the installation of the cables that will bring the power generated from the wind farm offshore to the substation onshore. The works will continue at intervals throughout the spring and summer months. Whilst there will be visible activity, the beach will remain open and the single designated construction area will be clearly signposted and secured. Once all the works are complete, in Summer 2017, the beach will be returned to its original condition.”
The two export cables used to link the offshore substation to the onshore network will be provided by nkt Cables. The contract is to supply approximately 94 kilometres of 132kV high voltage submarine cables, with the first phase to be delivered ready for installation in late 2016, and the second and last phase delivered ready for installation in 2017. The cable installation works will be carried out by VBMS UK who have also been contracted to supply and install Galloper’s array cables.
Construction of Galloper is being led on behalf of the project partners by RWE Innogy UK. The project represents an investment potential of around GBP 1.5 billion and will create around 700 jobs during construction and up 100 once operational. The average annual generation expected from the 336MW project is estimated to be equivalent to the approximate domestic needs of around 336,000 average UK households.