First Subsea Cracks Offshore Wind Market with Hornsea 1 Contract

Lancaster-based First Subsea, has entered the offshore wind market after signing a multi-million pound contract with DONG Energy to provide cable protection system units for the 1.2GW Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.

The order for 151 CPS units is the first major UK contract in renewables for First Subsea.

“This contract agreement is the culmination of years of hard work at First Subsea and a very proud moment for us all,” John Shaw, First Subsea’s Managing Director, said.

”We recognised the growth of the renewables industry, particularly offshore wind, when we applied for the grant to develop our processes a few years ago. We knew it would be hugely beneficial in the long term if we were able to diversify. Delivering on this contract with a global player like DONG Energy will demonstrate our capabilities to the rest of the offshore wind industry, both in the UK and hopefully wider into Europe too. I can’t stress how much of a great opportunity this is for our business.”

Hornsea Project One will be built 120km off the Yorkshire Coast. It will be the first offshore wind farm with a capacity over 1GW and capable of powering well over one million homes, DONG said.

Onshore construction has started and the windfarm is expected to be operational by 2020. The offshore wind farm will use 7MW wind turbines, with each one 190 metres tall – larger than the Gherkin building in London.