Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm Completes Second Export Cable Off Scotland's East Coast

Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm has finished installing its second offshore export cable, marking a significant construction milestone for the 1.1-gigawatt project located off the east coast of Scotland.

A Complex Installation Spanning Three Sections

The second of two 220 kV three-phase export cables was installed in three 28-kilometre sections, each stretching a total of 85 kilometres. The work was carried out by Enshore Subsea using the cable lay vessel CMOS Installer, which operated out of the Port of Blyth.

The installation required two offshore joints, completed by jointing specialists working onboard the vessel Normand Cutter. Burial of the cable in the seabed was carried out using Enshore Subsea's hybrid trenching vehicle ENS1100, a piece of equipment described as purpose-built for the project, with some final rock placement still to follow.

Together with the first cable, a total of 170 kilometers of export cable has now been installed across the two parallel runs. The cables were manufactured by Ningbo Orient Wires and Cables Co. Ltd, known as Orient Cable, and are described as being among the largest AC export cables in the world. Each kilometre of cable weighs almost 140 tonnes, and the conductor size is 2000 square millimeters.

Route from Offshore Substation to Cockenzie

The two parallel cables are designed to transmit power generated by the wind farm's offshore substation platform to a new onshore substation at Cockenzie in East Lothian, from where electricity will feed into the national grid. The cables will be energised over the coming weeks, with first power targeted toward the end of 2026. John Hill, Inch Cape Project Director, said the completion represented another major achievement for the project.

He pointed to the collaboration between the Inch Cape team and its contractors, specifically naming Orient Cable and Enshore Subsea, as central to delivering the result. Hill noted the milestone builds on solid progress as the project enters its next phases of offshore construction. Pierre Boyde, Enshore Subsea CEO, said the work demonstrates the company's ability to fast-track complex projects and its strength in shallow-water operations. He also highlighted the performance of the ENS1100 trencher during the campaign.

Broader Construction Activity Continues Offshore

The completion of the export cable installation does not mark the end of active construction at Inch Cape. The project recently finished its monopile and transition piece installation program. Current offshore activity includes array cable laying being carried out by the new-build vessel Altera, and jacket foundation pin pile installation being conducted by Alfa Lift.

On the turbine supply side, components for the project's 15-megawatt turbines are being delivered to the Port of Dundee ahead of tower assembly and offshore installation. The project remains on track for full commercial operations in 2027.

Project Ownership and Scale

Inch Cape is owned through a 50/50 equal joint venture between ESB and Red Rock Renewables. Once fully operational, the 1.1-gigawatt wind farm is projected to generate almost 5 terawatt-hours of energy each year, an amount described as sufficient to power half of the homes in Scotland.