All three export cables for the Formosa 1 Phase 2 offshore windfarm in Taiwan have now been installed
Jan De Nul Group’s cable-laying Vessel Willem de Vlamingh recently finished installing the cables for the windfarm – Taiwan’s first commercial-scale project – as part of an engineering, procurement, construction and installation deal awarded to the company for the balance of plant for the offshore windfarm. The contract also included installing 17 inter array cables.
The export cables were installed in a week. Having a shallow draft design, Willem de Vlamingh was able to position itself in water depths of as little as 7 m, limiting the shore pull required to around 1,750 m.
At the beach landing, the cables were pulled through three HDD ducts into the transition joint bays. Willem de Vlamingh is also acting as trenching support vessel for the jet-trenching of the export and inter array cables.
The company relied on a local supply chain for assistance with beach pull, including installing the HDD ducts, dive support and supply and operation of support vessels.
The windfarm is owned by Formosa I Wind Power Co Ltd, a partnership between Ørsted (35%), JERA (32.5%), Macquarie Capital (25%) and Swancor Holding (7.5%). It is located approximately 6 km off the west coast of the Miaoli district in the Taiwan Strait, in water depths ranging from 15 m to 30 m.
Phase 2 of the project sees the original demonstrator project, comprising two wind turbines with a total capacity of 8 MW, extended. This second phase will add turbines with a total capacity of 120 MW to Formosa 1’s 8 MW.
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