The United Kingdom has committed to reduce greenhouse gasses by 12.5% by 2008-2012, plus a target of reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, by 2010. The generation of electricity from renewable energy sources (I.E. wind, waves etc) produces no emissions and when consumed at the expense of fossil fuels, will assist in the reduction of emissions of gasses, which are harmful to the environment.

The UK Government also has a target to generate 10% of its electricity energy demand from renewable sources by 2010. The Government has stated that wind, both on and offshore, will be significant contributors to achieving this target. The report by the Royal Commission on Environmental pollution has confirmed the widely acknowledged fact that it will be necessary to further develop wind energy in order to achieve this target.

THE PROJECT

National Wind Power (NWP), having received all necessary statutory consents, will construct the UK's first major offshore wind farm.The project, known as North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm (North Hoyle), is situated 4-5 miles off the North Wales coast between Prestatyn and Rhyl and will consist of 30 x 2MW (Megawatts) wind turbines giving a total installed capacity of 60MW.

The Construction at North Hoyle will be by way of a consortium of companies, that comprises the turbine manufacturer (Vestas) Celtic Wind Technology and Mayflower Energy. Generated power will be brought ashore using high voltage 33kV subsea power cables, which are being manufactured and supplied by AEI Cables Limited.

It is expected that the North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm will be fully constructed and operational by autumn 2003.

SUBSEA CABLES

Two designs of subsea cable will be employed, one for inter-connection of the turbine array and one for transmission of power to shore.

TURBINE INTER-CONNECTION CABLES

These cables are 3-core 33kV with 185mm2 copper conductors, Cross Linked Polyethylene insulation and incorporating a 12 fibre-optic package for data transmission. Cables are armoured overall with a layer of 5mm galvanised steel wires. A total of 18km of inter-connector cable will be supplied in multiple reel lengths of 500m and 800m ready for installation.

SHORE LINK CABLES

Power will be transmitted to shore via two 33kV cables laid in parallel. Because of the turbine layout and routes to shore, one cable will be 11km and the other 13km long. Both will be supplied in single un-jointed lengths and will be collected directly from the factory and transported to site by the cable lay vessel.

These cables will be of a similar construction to the inter-connector cable and will incorporate a 12 fibre-optic package for data transfer. They will however have conductors of 630mm2-crossection area and an armour wire size of 6mm.

AEI CABLES

AEI Cables operates from three sites in the UK. The base at Gravesend (Kent) occupies a 35-acre site alongside the River Thames and is ideally placed for the collection by vessel of continuous lengths of subsea cable for worldwide distribution.

Depending on the design option, cables can be supplied in continuous lengths up to (approximately) 80km for Power and 400km for optical communications. AEI is able to process and store these continuous lengths in an array of cable storage areas on site, all of which are linked to a Riverside load-out system for delivery to an awaiting vessel.

AEI CABLES LTD Durham Road Birtley Chester-le-Street County Durham DH3 2RA Tel:  +44 (0)191 410 3111 Fax: +44 (0)191 410 8312 Website: www.aeicables.co.uk Email:    sales@aeicables.co.uk Contact: Mr David Fraser (Export Director)              Mr Jim Duffy (UK Commercial Director)