Wind

The £1.5bn wind farm, which is being developed by Norwegian energy firms Statoil and Statkraft, is situated 32km off the North Norfolk coast in water depths of 18m to 25m.

The project will feature 67 Siemens wind turbines each with 6MW of capacity, generating enough power for 410,000 UK homes.

JDR will design and manufacture the cables at its UK facilities in Cambridgeshire and Hartlepool.

The company will deliver two inter-array cables, a 185mm² copper conductor cable and a 500mm² copper conductor cable, in two continuous lengths.

JDR will also provide accessories such as connectors, fibre optic patch panels, connectors, cable cleats, and subsea repair joints.

Statkraft and Statoil will initially build an onshore substation and lay cables on land before starting offshore construction in 2016.

Statoil will operate the wind farm, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2017.

JDR chief executive officer Andrew Norman said: "The UK has led the global market for offshore wind developments.

"JDR has been involved right from the start with our work on the London Array and Greater Gabbard projects. We are now delighted to have been selected as inter-array cable partner for Dudgeon."

UK Government Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: "I am delighted this contract has been awarded to JDR Cables, one of the UK’s premier offshore wind suppliers, demonstrating their success in a very competitive market.

"As part of our long-term economic plan we are working with the offshore wind industry to bolster a thriving manufacturing industry here in the UK, ensuring more energy jobs comes to our shores."

Image: Statoil will operate the Dudgeon offshore wind farm, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2017. Photo: Courtesy of xedos4/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.