ScottishPower Renewables has achieved a global engineering first – completing a record-breaking subsea drilling and duct pull-in operation at its £4 billion East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm.
The construction milestone saw the installation of the two cable ducts that will provide a protected pathway for the high-voltage export cables that will carry the clean, green electricity from the 960 MW wind farm to shore.
Installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to safely drill beneath the Suffolk coastline and seabed, the specialist engineering operation involved the world's longest continuous single sections of extruded polyethylene (PE) ducts.
At just under 1800 m long and 800 mm in diameter, the giant ducts form the largest electricity transmission landfall of its kind in the UK, based on the combination of these two dimensions.
Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ Managing Director for Offshore, said: “The completion of this colossal HDD, which is three times the length of our other East Anglia projects, is a huge achievement – quite literally – and a major milestone as we progress construction of our third wind farm in the region. Our priority is always to deliver our clean energy projects, and all the benefits they bring, in a responsible and sensitive way that is mindful of the environment and the people around us.
“Landfall works are known to be one of the most technically challenging aspects of building an offshore wind farm, but thanks to precision planning and a great partnership with our principal contractor, OCU Group, and duct manufacturer, Pipelife, this programme has well and truly hit the mark – breaking UK and world records in the process. It’s incredible.”
HDD is a complex engineering solution that goes deep beneath the ground to create an underground bore without the need to dig up beaches, dunes, cliffs or coastal habitats, minimising any disruption to the environment and sensitive landscapes. It is completed using rigs working onshore and offshore simultaneously.
The HDD works are part of the East Anglia TWO civil engineering programme being carried out by principal contractor OCU Group, with support from its subsidiary, Peter McCormack & Sons. The contract is supporting more than 80 jobs during construction.
Mike McNulty, HDD Director at OCU Group, added: “Delivering a landfall HDD of this scale is an exceptional engineering achievement, demanding meticulous planning, technical expertise and close collaboration. Successfully installing the first 1800-m, 800 mm diameter PE pipe in a single continuous section is testament to the skill and commitment of everyone involved.
“We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside ScottishPower Renewables and our project partners to deliver this critical infrastructure for East Anglia TWO. This milestone demonstrates what can be achieved through specialist engineering, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to delivering major energy infrastructure responsibly.”
The record-breaking 1800 m x 800 mm pipes were manufactured by Pipelife.
Project Manager in Pipelife Norway, Martin Myhre, concluded: “At 1793 m, this is the longest pipe Pipelife Norway has ever manufactured, making it a significant milestone for us. Producing the pipe through continuous extrusion meant we could manufacture it as one uninterrupted length, without the need for welding. This eliminates welded joints, resulting in a more robust and reliable solution for this demanding application.
“The pipe’s journey was also quite extraordinary. After being manufactured at our facility in Stathelle, Norway, it was transported all the way to Thorpeness in England by tow. A project of this scale takes close collaboration and careful planning throughout the entire supply chain, and we are very proud to have contributed to this record-breaking achievement.”
The first of the wind farm’s export cables is expected to be installed in summer 2027, with the wind farm working towards commercial operation in late 2028.
For more news and technical articles from the global renewable industry, read the latest issue of Energy Global magazine.
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