Nexans has won a contract from Orsted and Eversource to install and protect the export cable link for the 704MW Revolution offshore wind farm off the US east coast.
The export cable will connect the wind farm, situated off Connecticut and Rhode Island, to the onshore grid.
This will be Nexans’ first cable installation project in the US as part of the frame agreement with Orsted-Eversource.
The project is the first Nexans will deliver under the export cable framework agreement with Orsted, providing the opportunity to supply up to 1000 km of high voltage subsea cables in the US by 2027.
It was signed in December 2019 between Orsted Wind Power North America and Nexans.
Construction of the Revolution offshore wind farm will start in 2023 and it is expected to be fully operational in 2025.
The Nexans Aurora will be used for the installation and is the first vessel of its kind in the offshore cable-laying sector.
Its 75-tonne special design cable capstan provides capacity for installation of cables in deep waters of 2000 metres and beyond.
The Aurora has a 10,000-tonne cable payload capacity and Nexans recently extended the Aurora’s installation capabilities, allowing simultaneous laying and protection and reaching higher depths of burial with minimal environmental impacts.
The vessel has shallow water capabilities to get close to shore for cable landing operations.
“We are committed for the long term in the US offshore wind industry and look forward to pursuing our partnership with Orsted and Eversource on this historic project.
“We have made the strategic investments to scale our US operations and deliver high voltage subsea cables that are manufactured and installed in America,” said Nexans executive vice president for subsea and land systems, Ragnhild Katteland.