HDD ducts successfully completed as part of Burbo Bank extension
VolkerInfra has successfully completed HDD ducts as part of work to connect the Burbo Bank wind farm extension, in North Wales, to the national grid.
DONG Energy appointed the specialist cabling and pipeline contractor under a joint venture, with sister company VBMS, as part of a major extension project for the wind farm.
The work was done using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) which runs under the Rhyl railway line, caravan park, A548 Road and Rhyl Golf Club.
Neil Gibbons, project manager at VolkerInfra, said: “There was a lot to think about in this job - not only were we going under an operational railway line, caravan park, road and golf club, we also had the sea defence structure to contend with.
“Although it had its challenges, it was great to deliver a pivotal part of the wind farm extension for DONG Energy.”
VolkerInfra is now completing a separate contract which will see the cables connected on the land.
The Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm comprises of 25 efficient wind turbines and is situated on the Burbo Flats at the entrance to the River Mersey. It is capable of generating up to 90MW (megawatts) of clean, environmentally sustainable electricity to approximately 80,000 homes.
The new extension, which is in-line with Government targets to generate energy from a renewable source, will cover an area of 40km2 and will be capable of generating up to 258MW, of clean power to approximately 180,000 homes.
The extension will run to the west of the existing wind farm.
