VolkerWessels Boskalis Marine Solutions (VBMS) has awarded an inter-array cable contract for Vattenfall AB Sandbank offshore wind farm to UK-based cable manufacturer JDR.

Sandbank is the third German wind farm project for JDR.

Under the contract, JDR will design and manufacture 105km of cable lines and accessories such as pulling grips, hang-offs, connectors, cable cleats and subsea repair joints for the 288MW offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

Construction of the Sandbank farm is expected to commence in 2015.

With 72 4MW turbines in water depths between 25m to 37m, the farm to be constructed at 90km west of Sylt Island will need two inter-array cables; a 185mm² copper conductor cable and another 630mm² copper conductor cable.

JDR will use its qualified coilable design for the cables, which will be supplied in splice-free lengths, be XLPE insulated and type tested to meet IEC 60502-2 and CIGRE standards.

Manufacturing for the cables will be done at JDR’s Hartlepool facility, which is positioned alongside a deepwater dock and has direct access to North Sea.

JDR executive chairman Pat Herbet said: “We’re delighted to be working with VBMS to deliver the Sandbank offshore wind farm. Sandbank is JDR’s third German wind farm win and another important step forward in the development of offshore wind energy in Northern Europe.

“The Sandbank project will utilise our new 630mm² copper core inter-array cable, part of the growing range of JDR inter-array options.

“This cable’s coilable design is another JDR initiative to help drive down cost as it supports greater flexibility in vessel selection and storage solutions.”