Costa Head Wave Farm

Moorings

The design of the mooring system to be used has not yet been finalised. Two types of mooring system are currently being considered. The multi-tether “Admiralty Type” mooring system uses drag embedment anchors and combines semi-taught tethers with chain catenaries. The arrangement is comprised of:

• Four vertical synthetic tethers attached to the device which are connected to and tensioned by a lump mass (provided by four clump weights or one steel/concrete ring);
• Four sets of twin chain lines used to connect each anchor point to the vertical  tethers; and
• Four drag embedment anchors [1].

Taut synthetic moorings with vertical load anchors (VLA) allow for a higher density of device layout and rely on the development of specific synthetic lines. The arrangement is comprised of:

• Four synthetic lines; and,
• Four VLAs or piles [1].

The number of anchors and lines could increase to ensure sufficient redundancy in the system. This is unlikely to exceed eight per system. The type of anchor to be used is also uncertain, the candidates are:

• Drag embedment anchors;
• Piles;
• Vertical Load Anchors (VLA); and
• Gravity based anchors.

Each of the above has specific requirements and performance according to seabed condition [1].

Export Cables

The AWS-III converters installed in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be inter-connected within the array. Each device will export power via its own 11 to 33kV inter-array cable. A number of factors including seabed condition, mooring arrangement and anchoring solution will influence the number, length, spacing and configuration of inter-array cables [1].

For Phase 1 the inter-array cabling is likely to comprise of one of two configurations:

• Individual umbilical cables per device; or
• A single umbilical used to connect multiple/all the converters in a daisy chain type arrangement.

It is anticipated that the inter-array cables will connect to a single export cable via a connector or a subsea terminal box in Phase 1.  Phase 2 will most likely require an offshore substation within the AfL to bring multiple lower voltage inter-array cables together and export power to shore at a higher voltage. In Phase 2 multiple export cables may be required, but will use the same route along the seabed. The offshore substation is most likely to be a fixed seabed mounted platform, however a floating structure has not been ruled out [1].

Onshore infrastructure

There are a number of potential landfall sites and grid connection routes that have been identified for this project. Although additional information is required, it is likely that CHWEFL will aim to find a grid connection point at the export cable landfall site [1].