Dogger Bank A, a wind energy development zone in the UK North Sea offshore Yorkshire, has completed the installation of 328km of 66KV inter-array cables.

The network of 95 cables, some up to 8.6km in length, is designed to link Dogger Bank A's 95 Haliade-X 13MW turbines to an offshore converter station. There the electricity will be transformed into direct current and transmitted to an onshore converter station using a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system.

The milestone follows the commencement of power generation by Dogger Bank A in October 2023.

DEME Offshore's vessels, Viking Neptun and Living Stone, were used for the cable laying and burial operations.

The installation process involved deploying the cables from a specialist vessel equipped with a carousel and tensioner device, ensuring precise placement on the seabed.

The project's complexity was heightened by the need for extensive underwater surveys before installation to ensure a clear path for the cables.

They were produced by Hellenic Cables, which secured the contract with Dogger Bank's tier-one contractor, DEME Offshore.

Hellenic Cables and DEME Offshore are now responsible for manufacturing and installing the inter-array cables for the subsequent phases of the project, Dogger Bank B and C.

The installation of Dogger Bank B will commence in autumn 2024.

Dogger Bank wind farm marine package manager Alan Evans stated: “This is another important part of our Dogger Bank A marine work complete, and is the result of a great collaboration between all parties involved.

“With 277 cables to be installed in total, it’s by far the biggest inter-array cable installation programme undertaken to date in offshore wind. The safe and smooth completion of this phase is a huge credit to the entire team.”

DEME offshore project director Geert Linthout stated: “The teams at Dogger Bank and DEME Offshore have collaborated closely to achieve this significant project milestone.

“Throughout the execution, DEME Offshore has successfully deployed both the Living Stone and the newly added cable installation vessel Viking Neptun, demonstrating outstanding performance.

“This has provided a solid and reliable basis for the upcoming Dogger Bank B phase and, subsequently, the Dogger Bank C phase. We are excited to continue our strong working relationship on Dogger Bank B and Dogger Bank C.”

In February 2024, SSE Renewables warned that a shortage of vessels, challenging weather conditions and supply chain issues might delay the completion of the first phase of Dogger Bank A until 2025.

Dogger Bank is a collaborative project involving SSE Renewables (40%), Equinor (40%) and Vårgrønn (20%).