The London Array wind farm is being installed on a 233km site located around 20km off the UK coast, in Thames Estuary. Construction is taking place in two phases: the first phase of 630MW, consisting of 175 turbines, is expected to be completed and generating in 2012; the future second phase will add capacity to bring the total to 1,000MW and will supply enough power for around 750,000 UK homes.
The power export cable contract comprises the design, manufacture and supply of four 150kV XLPE submarine power cables to be laid in parallel, each 53 to 54 km in length. Nexans will deliver two of the cables in 2011, and two in 2012, all being delivered in single continuous lengths from Nexans factory in Halden.
The cables will also incorporate fibre optic elements manufactured at the Nexans factory in Rognan, Norway. In addition, the contract also includes the cable accessories such as repair joints and terminations.
