Cable laying for Cornwall Wave Hub reaches beach

Tuesday, Aug 24, 2010

Anoffshore cable for a £42m wave energy scheme in Cornwall has been broughtashore after weeks of technical and weather problems.

Work on theWave Hub cable stopped after flotation devices holding the 90-tonne cablefailed as it was unwound from a ship 2km (1.25 miles) offshore.

Engineershave used different floats to bring it ashore at Hayle Towans.

The cablewill connect energy machines to the National Grid via the Wave Hub, anelectrical socket, on the seabed.

Work was dueto start at the beginning of the month to begin laying the cable, but badweather caused delays.

This was acritical milestone for Wave Hub and a great relief to see the cable broughtsafely ashore”

EndQuote GuyLavender South West Regional DevelopmentAgency

Itfinally started on 7 August, but was stopped again on 13 August after problemswith the original floats, sheaths around the cable, began sinking.

This timedifferent floats were used, which were a sling in which the cable restedbetween two air bags.

The cable isto be buried under the beach and connected to a nearby electricity sub-station.

GuyLavender, of the South West Regional Development Agency, which is managing theproject, said: "This was a critical milestone for Wave Hub and a greatrelief to see the cable brought safely ashore.

"Layingthe rest of the cable will take several days."

The nextstage of the project will involve the ship Nordica sailing out to what will bethe hub's final location about 16km (10 miles) offshore, laying the cabledirectly on to the seabed.

Once thathas happened, the cable will be buried and the 12-tonne hub, also on board theNordica, will be lowered on to the seabed.

The hub isdue to undergo a series of tests in the autumn.

Source: BBC