Enshore Subsea Secures Export Cable Installation Contract for Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm
U.K.-based Enshore Subsea has been awarded the export cable installation contract for the Inch Cape offshore wind farm, a major renewable energy project in Scotland. The Inch Cape project is set to become one of Scotland’s largest offshore wind farms.
The scope of work for Enshore Subsea includes the installation of two 85-kilometer, 220kV, three-phase export cables. These cables are among the largest in the world based on their diameter and weight. Each cable will be delivered in three sections and will require offshore field joints.
Enshore Subsea will be responsible for the entire export cable installation process, from transfer from port to site, lay and burial, support during jointing, to deployment of the cable protection system. The company will also handle all pull-in operations and the installation of the export cables at both the transition joint bay in Cockenzie, East Lothian, and the offshore substation off the Angus coastline.
The offshore works for the project are scheduled to commence in summer 2025. Enshore Subsea will utilize the CMOS Installer cable laying vessel (CLV) for cable laying, and their fleet of subsea trenchers for cable burial.
The Inch Cape offshore wind farm, with a capacity of almost 1.1 GW, is located off the Angus coastline in water depths ranging from 40 to 59 meters. The wind farm will consist of 72 offshore wind turbines, each standing up to 274 meters tall and rated at 14 MW. The turbines will be supplied by Vestas, with Jan De Nul handling the installation of monopiles.
Managing Director of Enshore Subsea, Pierre Boyde, expressed the company’s pride in being a part of the significant Inch Cape project. He stated, “Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is a significant project for the UK, and we are proud that we can play our part. We are looking forward to working with the Inch Cape team and other partners to bring the development to life.”
The financial close for the Inch Cape offshore wind farm, developed by ESB and Red Rock Renewables as equal joint owners, was achieved in January 2025, raising over $4.3 billion in funding.