Offshore energy contractor DEME has secured a contract for the transportation and installation of inter-array cables and secondary steel for the OranjeWind offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.
114km of inter-array cables will connect its 53 foundations to the offshore substation in the Dutch North Sea.
The installation will commence in the second half of 2026, with DEME deploying offshore and cable installation vessels, a hopper dredger, a fall pipe vessel and additional supporting equipment.
Located 53km from the Dutch coast, the wind farm has an installed capacity of 800MW and is being developed by a joint venture between RWE and TotalEnergies.
DEME's scope includes engineering, preparatory and supporting activities, ensuring a complete solution for the energy companies.
Pre-sweeping will take place at the wind farm to ensure cables are buried at the required depth in areas with significant sand waves.
Rocks will be used to stablise the cables at the offshore substation and crossings of current assets.
The secondary steelwork involves the transport and installation of boat landings, access platforms, and internal platforms at the monopile foundations.
DEME Subsea Power Cables general manager Philip Scheers stated: “With our diverse offshore fleet and specialised equipment, we are well positioned to successfully deliver this project while working closely with RWE and TotalEnergies' joint venture.
“Additionally, the project will benefit from DEME's extensive experience in cable installation, particularly given the dynamic seabed environment at the wind farm location. We are also excited to collaborate with RWE and TotalEnergies, two leaders at the forefront of advancing the energy transition through innovative solutions”.
This is DEME's fourth cable project awarded recently. It follows two contracts with Prysmian for TenneT’s IJmuiden Ver Alpha and the Nederwiek 1 offshore grid systems in the Netherlands, and a contract with Hellenic Cables for high-voltage subsea cables for Princess Elisabeth Island in the Belgian North Sea.
