Equinor Picks Prysmian Inter-Array Cables Offshore New York

Equinor has signed an agreement with the Prysmian Group for the supply of inter-array cables for the Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York.

Prysmian revealed that it is responsible for the design, supply and storage of approximately 150km of 66kV XLPE-insulated inter-array cables, which will transmit twice the current industry standard ensured by 33kV systems.

The cable system will undergo continuous fabrication at Prysmian’s centers of excellence in Montereau, France, and Nordenham, Germany.

The construction of the cable system’s power cores is set to begin this month. The completion of the cable is expected in the summer of 2022, with final installation in 2023 or 2024.

“This agreement marks an important step forward in the development of Empire Wind and will allow us to transport twice as much power over a single inter-array cable as current industry practice. The agreement with Prysmian will help ensure that Empire Wind brings affordable and renewable energy to New Yorkers as efficiently as possible,” said Christer Af Geijerstam, President of Equinor Wind US.

Empire Wind will feature 60-80 turbines, with an installed capacity of 10-15MW, that will be located approximately 20 miles south of Long Island. The 816MW offshore wind project is expected to be operational in 2024.

To remind, Equinor secured the rights to develop the Empire Wind project this July.