ESB and Red Rock Renewables have completed an 18-month offshore survey and boulder relocation programme for the under-construction 1.1GW Inch Cape wind farm off Scotland.
The developers said more than 26,000 boulders have been moved from the project’s 85km export cable corridor, at the offshore substation platform and from the positions of all 72 turbine foundations and 150km of inter-array cables.
The boulders were relocated to within three and 150 metres of their original locations using remotely operated vehicles and marine contractor N-Sea’s multipurpose vessels FS Aries, 4-Winds and Pathfinder.
The initial geophysical surveys were carried out from hybrid vessel Geo Ranger.
Offshore construction is already underway at the array off Angus. Installation of 18 jacket foundations and wind turbines is due to commence from later this year.