JDR, a worldwide provider of custom designed and manufactured subsea power cables, umbilical systems and specialised marine cables, has been awarded a contract by Fluor Ltd for the supply of inter-array cables for the Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm.

Under development by Airtricity, the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy Plc (SSE), Greater Gabbard will be the world's largest offshore wind farm development upon completion in 2011.

It will be the first UK offshore wind farm to be built outside territorial waters and will provide carbon neutral, renewable electricity for more than 415,000 homes, equivalent to the approximate domestic demand of Suffolk.

The scope awarded to JDR includes over 200 km of 33kV 3-phase power cables which will provide the essential link between the 3.6MW turbine generators and the Gabbard and Galloper offshore substations.

The cables include fibre optics and terminations and will be supplied during the course of 2009 and 2010 from both its facility at Littleport in Cambridgeshire, and from its new deepwater quayside facility at Hartlepool Dock.

From Hartlepool, JDR will supply cables weighing up to 2200 tonnes to be spooled directly from the factory to offshore cable laying vessels moored on the deep water quay.

"JDR's involvement in this pioneering project further demonstrates our firm commitment to the renewable energy sector," stated Patrick Phelan, Managing Director of JDR Cable Systems Ltd, "JDR has long embraced the growing international consensus that alternative and sustainable energy sources are viable in the near future, and the company has expanded its facilities to service the multiple offshore wind farm projects planned for the coast of Britain and the rest of Europe."