Wolfe Island Wind Project in Canada: Nexans to supply world record-breaking submarine power infrastructure cable

Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, has just signed a contract worth around 7 million Euro with Canadian Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., to design, manufacture and supply a world record-breaking high-voltage submarine power cable for the Wolfe Island Wind Project, near Kingston, Ontario, in Canada. The 7.8 km long cable will be the world’s first 3-core XLPE submarine cable to achieve a voltage rating of 245 kV, beating Nexans’ current world record of 150 kV, set by the Horns Rev offshore wind farm in Denmark.

The Wolfe Island Wind Project will consist of 86 2.3 MW wind turbines located on Wolfe Island, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. It will annually generate enough renewable electricity to power 75,000 households. Construction is scheduled to commence in spring of 2007, with commercial operation expected in October 2008. The Nexans cable will be laid on the bottom of the St Lawrence River, at a maximum water depth of 23 m.

"We are particularly proud and happy that the CREC has selected Nexans to supply the high voltage submarine cable for the Wolfe Island Wind Project. This project is of strategic importance to Nexans as it represents the first 245 kV XLPE 3-core submarine cable to be installed anywhere in the world, as well as confirming our leading position in the high voltage submarine power cable market both in North America and in the windmill farm sector,” said Frédéric Vincent, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice-President for the North America Area within Nexans.

The cable will be produced at the Nexans factory in Halden, Norway and should be delivered in May 2008