Latest on the construction of the Wave Hub

Update 10/08/10 - there has been several delays to the installation of the cable last week due to adverse weather and a technical hitch with the flotation device used to support the cable. On Saturday during the installation process the cable sunk whilst being pulled onshore by a support vessel. When work commences this week the cable will be connected to the purpose built onshore substation. The MV Nordica, the cable installation vessel will move to the wave hub site, 16km offshore.

The cable for the connection of the Wave Hub site is currently being loaded on to the MV Nordica in Hartlepool. The bright yellow “hub” has also been winched onto the vessel, which will be making its way down to Cornwall this weekend.

The MV Nordica is a cable laying vessel contracted by CTC Marine Projects, an offshore support firm, to being laying the cable in the next fortnight. The cable was manufactured by JDR Cable Systems Ltd.

After commissioning, wave energy devices will be connected to the Wave Hub in August 2011.

Cable Facts

Length: 25 km
Construction: 6 cores, 48 fibre optic cables, steel armour and polymer sheath
Voltage: 33 kV
Weight: 1,300 tonnes
Cost: £ 7 million