Member Article

Aycliffe energy firm wins major offshore contract

A Newton Aycliffe energy firm which expects turnover to swell to £50m in the next three years has won another major contract.

Tekmar, the world’s leading cable protection company for the offshore wind industry, has been awarded a cable protection contract by DONG Energy for the Westermost Rough Offshore Wind Farm.

Situated eight kilometres off the coast of Hull, Westermost Rough windfarm will cover an area of 35 sq km, generating 210MW of electricity – enough to supply 200,000 homes.

The scheme is part of the UK’s Round 2 of wind farm projects. Once complete, the Westermost Rough OWF will be the first wind farm in the world to use Siemens 6MW turbines on a commercial scale.

Tekmar, based on Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will provide bespoke coverings to protect the infield and export cables from exposure to loads, deformations and fatigue during installation and over the 35-turbine windfarm’s service life.

Chief executive James Richie said: “The Westermost Rough project will play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions and contribute towards the UK achieving its targets of electricity generation from renewable energy schemes.

“This is a significant project for us to be involved in and the fifth time we have worked with DONG Energy.

“We will be supplying Westermost Rough OWF with our Teklink cable protection system which brings a range of benefits when compared to more traditional cable, installation and protection.”

In comparison with other subsea cable installations, Tekmar’s Teklink system does not require a j-tube and utilises a remote installation method.

This provides enhanced cable life and resilience – reducing the risk of damage and requirement for maintenance and cost saving on foundation.

Over the past five years Tekmar has installed more than 2,000 cable protection systems and has a further 1,000 in design or manufacture for the 26 windfarms it has been involved in across Europe.

Founded in 1985, the firm initially specialised in oil and gas before moving into the expanding offshore renewables industry when it developed bespoke cable protection systems for cables connecting wind turbines.

The company recently announced its plan to enhance its service in the oil and gas market, whilst maintaining its leading position in offshore renewables.

As part of this, Tekmar aims to generate £15m in turnover from its oil and gas operations by 2016 as part of a strategy to increase overall turnover from £22m to £50m.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .