Aberdeen-based Balmoral Comtec has won a contract of undisclosed value to supply 400 cable protection systems to Ørsted for its Hornsea 3 project, located 120km off England’s Norfolk coast.
As the world’s largest offshore windfarm in construction, Hornsea is expected to be operational by 2027. It will contribute toward the UK government’s goal of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Over-bending, abrasion and fatigue of underwater cables present a challenge for offshore wind developers such as Ørsted. The patented system offered by Balmoral Comtec, a company in the Balmoral Group, uses materials designed to improve operational performance and increase resistance to mechanical fatigue.
The protection system locks together mechanically, removing a reliance on chemical bonding, notoriously unpredictable and problematic to validate over a field’s life. The supplier says its technology guarantees market-leading strain and stiffness levels, unachievable through traditional component design.
Pictured on the left above, Balmoral Comtec’s projects director Fraser Milne said: “Hornsea 3 will be a vital project for the UK’s energy transition. We’re thrilled to play a role”.
Work will be carried out in the firm’s 250,000sq ft factor in Aberdeen, by members of Balmoral Group’s 650-strong workforce
“As windfarms and turbines expand in size, scale and complexity”, Milne went on”, our industry leading expertise, scalable manufacturing capability will be crucial as offshore wind developers and OEMs navigate these complex challenges.”
For Ørsted, its Hornsea 3 project director Luke Bridgman, said: “Hornsea 3 is a nationally-significant renewable energy project, providing low-cost, clean energy at scale.
“To successfully deliver an offshore windfarm of this magnitude, it’s vital that we draw on the extensive knowledge and expertise of our teams, contractors and suppliers. We look forward to working alongside Balmoral Comtec as we progress through the next stages of construction.”
