Energy and marine consultancy ABL has secured a contract to provide marine warranty survey services for the Biscay interconnector project, which connects France and Spain via a subsea cable across the Biscay Gulf.
The Biscay interconnector project, a collaboration between French and Spanish electricity transmission system operators, will install 400km of subsea cables using high-voltage direct current technology.
INELFE, a joint venture between Réseau de Transport d'Électricité and Red Eléctrica de España, is leading the initiative, which is co-financed by the European Union as a Project of Common Interest.
The interconnector will link the Gatika substation near Bilbao, Spain, with the Cubnezais substation in Aquitaine, France, and will have a transmission capacity of 2 x 1000MW.
ABL will be responsible for reviewing technical documents, including procedures, drawings and calculations related to the warranted operations, conducting suitability surveys of the proposed fleet, including dynamic positioning trials, and providing on-site attendance during offshore operations.
ABL France managing director Hugues Delanoue stated: “Interconnectors play an increasingly crucial role in our modern energy systems.
“They enhance our energy security, improve cost and energy efficiency, and facilitate greater renewable energy integration into electrical systems.
“Our track record covers experience supporting the construction of some of the world’s most significant interconnector projects in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. In short, we have the experience and the technical expertise to support this challenging project.”
The project will be managed by ABL's operations in Paris, France, with support from their marine warranty survey teams in both France and Spain.
Delanoue added: “70% of ABL France’s work is supporting renewable energy and energy transition technology development, including subsea interconnectors.
“This project aligns with who we are and what we stand for, and we will apply our technical expertise and market-leading track record in marine warranty survey, to help strengthen energy supply for more people and more homes.”
