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ABL Wins Contract for French Offshore Grid Connections

ABL appointed as MWS for marine T&I operations for Centre Manche 1 and 2 offshore substations in France's wind projects.
ABL Centre Manche

ABL, an energy and marine consultancy firm, has been selected as the marine warranty surveyor (MWS) for the transportation and installation operations of the Centre Manche 1 and Centre Manche 2 offshore substations in France.

The Centre Manche 1 and Centre Manche 2 projects are integral to two offshore wind initiatives, Appel d’Offre 4 (AO4) and Appel d’Offre 8 (AO8), contributing to France’s goal of developing 1 GW of offshore wind energy annually starting in 2023.

Centre Manche 1 will link the AO4 (1,050 MW) offshore wind farm and a portion of the AO8 (200 MW) to the 400 kV substation at Menuel via a 100-kilometre DC export cable.

Centre Manche 2 will connect the AO8 offshore wind farm to the 400 kV substation at Tourbe using a 105-kilometre DC cable. Both substations are designed to have a capacity of 1.25 GW each.

ABL’s role in France involves MWS duties for the installation campaign of the Centre Manche 1 and 2 substations, including the DC export cable and three 2-kilometre interstation links.

The company will conduct technical reviews and approvals of T&I engineering documents, participate in safety risk meetings (HAZID/HAZOP), evaluate installation vessel suitability, supervise operations, and provide approval certificates.

Project work is scheduled to start in Q3 2024, with completion anticipated by 2032.

The substations will feature sister topsides, each weighing 13,300 tonnes, and jackets weighing approximately 7,000 tonnes each, constructed by Hitachi Energy and Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

The AO8 wind farm spans 260 square kilometres and is situated 40–50 kilometres east of the Manche department.

The AO4 wind farm off the coast of Normandy will be developed by Eoliennes en Mer Manche Normandie, a joint venture of EDF Renouvelables and Canada’s Maple Power.

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