20 Jun 2013

Intertek, the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, has successfully completed a long-standing cable package engineering and support contract at London Array, the world's largest offshore wind farm.

Now in full operation, London Array is set to provide renewable energy to over half a million British homes each year and as part of this extensive project Intertek provided valuable construction, cable engineering and installation support.

The activity began in 2001 and has seen Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services (formerly Metoc) carried significant cable routing and feasibility studies during the evolution of the project. These vital studies helped aid the installation of the four export cables, each over 50km in length, to the on and offshore substations, saving vital time and helping the project to meet scheduled completion deadlines.

Throughout the lifecycle of the brief, Intertek provided dedicated on-site cable engineering expertise and resource to the project, thereby enabling the developer and all associated project partners, to help reduce risks and maintain schedule.

"Offshore wind farms have really boosted the industry for UK clean energy growth," said Frank Beiboer, Managing Director, Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services. 

"Having worked closely with the project development team at London Array since its inception, we're proud to have played a role in helping bring the initiative online – especially given the sheer size and scale of the project.  Through the provision of specialist expertise and dedicated internal personnel, it's fantastic to be able to celebrate and share this important industry milestone and measure of success."

Richard Rigg, London Array Project Director, added, "Intertek carried out a number of significant cable routing studies during the development of the London Array Offshore Wind Farm. More recently, Intertek has provided expertise in the form of personnel to manage elements of the installation and commissioning of the four export cables and technical advice in preparation for the transfer of the cables to an Offshore Transmission Owner."

"While a project of this scale will inevitably experience a variety of challenges, Intertek has consistently produced high quality work that has helped to keep the project on track and has contributed to London Array becoming a real success story for UK energy."

Separately, in February 2013, Intertek confirmed that it will provide marine advisory services for offshore surveys and export cable installation to Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE), for two French offshore wind projects.

Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services (formerly Metoc) is a leading international consultancy specialising in technical services in the marine, coastal and river environments.  Its expertise helps reduce risk for clients through all stages of a development, from concept, feasibility and design, through construction and operation, to decommissioning.  Key sectors are oil & gas, offshore renewables and marine cables, and water, where it partners with operators, developers, utilities, lenders and government.

Editorial contact:
Roland Godfrey-Davies
+44 (0) 20 7193 6013
roland@tamarindocomms.com

About Intertek

Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide.  From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers' products, processes and assets.  With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 35,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies' success in a global marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users' expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide.  Visitwww.intertek.com.

About Intertek Energy & Water Consultancy Services

We are a leading international consultancy specialising in technical services in the marine, coastal and river environments.  Our expertise helps reduce risk for our clients through all stages of a development, from concept, feasibility and design, through construction and operation, to decommissioning.  Key sectors we operate in are oil & gas, offshore renewables and marine cables, and water, where we partner with operators, developers, utilities, lenders and government.