SCAR2 Seabed System – the project scope for Hornsea Project One export cables is the latest in a number of renewable energy sector awards secured by the subsea technology company (photo: ESS)

Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) has been awarded a major seabed clearance project on the world’s biggest offshore wind farm.

The project scope for Hornsea Project One export cables, located 120 km off the Yorkshire coast, is the latest in a number of renewable energy sector awards secured by the subsea technology company.

On completion, Hornsea Project One will generate enough clean energy to power well over one million UK homes, generated by 174 giant wind turbines and transported along a 900km long network of cables.

ESS will deploy its patented SCAR2 Seabed System along a 25-metre corridor from an anchor handling vessel on behalf of client Tideway BV. Mobilising from Sunderland, ESS will also complete survey and boulder grabbing workscopes from a second vessel. The project is expected to last 90 days and is the second largest project awarded to Banchory-based ESS to date.

DONG Energy are the end client and this award builds on previous work carried out on behalf of Denmark’s largest energy company, following similar projects on the Race Bank Wind Farm off the Norfolk coast in June 2016 and Westermost Rough Wind Farm east of Hull in 2014.

ESS managing director Mark Gillespie says the contract for Hornsea Project One cements the subsea technology firm’s reputation as a major provider of services to large-scale offshore wind farms.

Gillespie says, “This significant award underlines our capacity to undertake seabed clearance and route preparation projects on the world’s largest offshore wind farms. Our SCAR suite of technologies has a proven track record, is robust and adaptable to all weather conditions and can be deployed from a range of vessels. These advantages are attractive to end-clients because not only is SCAR cost effective but it can be utilised at times which have minimal or no impact on the critical path of other project work.”

“We are looking forward to working with Tideway BV and DONG Energy and to completing another successful seabed clearance project in the renewables energy sector,” adds Gillespie.

The SCAR2 Seabed System has been paired with the Siem vessels on previous projects, most recently on the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm off the Caithness coast when ESS prepared a 15 km route in water depths of between 30-60 metres.

Tags: Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS)