Interconnection line between Ireland and Great Britain is about to go into trial operation, cable installation is being completed

Japan-based Sumitomo Electric Industries has completed all onshore and offshore cable installation work for the Greenlink Interconnector between Ireland and the United Kingdom, with trial operations expected in the coming months.

The project involved the manufacture and installation of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) HVDC cables onshore along a 24-kilometre route in Ireland, a 6-kilometre route in Wales, and submarine cables along a 160-kilometre offshore route connecting Great Island in County Wexford and Pembrokeshire in Wales.

The project milestone was recently reached with the completion of all tests, commissioning and handover of the cable system to the consortium partner Siemens Energy.

“Greenlink is extremely pleased that Sumitomo Electric has completed all onshore and offshore HVDC cable installation work ahead of schedule,” said James O’ReillyCEO of Greenlink.

“We are very much looking forward to the successful testing and commissioning of the project later this year. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Sumitomo Electric and its subcontractors for their outstanding contributions to the Greenlink project.”

Sumitomo Electric commissioned Jan De Nul to install two submarine HVDC cables and one fiber optic cable for the Greenlink Interconnector in 2022. The installation was carried out by the cable-laying vessel (CLV) Connector.

The cable laying and excavation work carried out by Helix Robotics Solution on behalf of Jan De Nul was interrupted in January due to bad weather and required maintenance and upgrade work on Grand Canyon III. Work resumed in May.