JDR Wins Equinor Contract for Hywind Tampen Floating Offshore Wind Cables
JDR Cable Systems Ltd. has secured a major contract from Equinor to supply subsea cables for Hywind Tampen, the first floating offshore wind project designed to power oil and gas platforms. This agreement further strengthens JDR’s role in the fast‑growing floating wind market. In addition, the project showcases how offshore wind can directly reduce emissions from offshore production.
You can learn more about JDR at https://www.jdrcables.com and Equinor at https://www.equinor.com.
Scope of the Hywind Tampen Cable Supply
Under the contract, JDR will supply eleven 66 kV dynamic inter-array cables, each about 2.5 km long. Furthermore, the company will deliver two static export cables that measure roughly 12.9 km and 16 km. Each cable includes a JDR‑designed breakaway system along with a full range of subsea cable accessories, so the overall system remains safe and reliable during extreme conditions.
The project site lies in the Tampen area of the North Sea, and JDR plans to complete cable delivery in 2022.
First Floating Offshore Wind Power for Oil and Gas Platforms
Hywind Tampen will become the first project worldwide to power oil and gas platforms with floating offshore wind technology. Unlike fixed‑foundation wind farms, floating projects bring far more technical challenges and rely on less mature technology. Consequently, subsea cables face high dynamic stress from waves, currents, and continuous platform movement, so they must withstand constant motion over many years.
Because of these demands, JDR designs each cable system for long‑term reliability in harsh offshore environments.
Hywind Tampen Wind Farm Configuration
The Hywind Tampen development will feature 11 floating wind turbines developed by Equinor. Each turbine will provide 8 MW, giving the wind farm a total capacity of 88 MW. As a result, the project will supply about 35% of the annual power demand for the Snorre A and B and Gullfaks A, B, and C oil and gas platforms.
Water depths reach around 300 meters, which makes this site much deeper than earlier floating wind projects. Consequently, Hywind Tampen stands out as the first floating wind project built specifically to power offshore oil and gas installations. To handle higher water pressures and demanding seabed conditions, JDR will design the cables that connect the loop to the Snorre A and Gullfaks A platforms with enhanced robustness.
JDR and TFKable Group’s Dynamic 66 kV Experience
JDR, part of Poland‑based TFKable Group, already brings proven experience in this emerging niche. Previously, the company delivered the world’s first application of dynamic 66 kV cable technology and a breakaway system to the WindFloat Atlantic floating wind farm. This track record gives JDR a strong technical foundation for Hywind Tampen.
For this project, TFKable will manufacture the power cores at its Bydgoszcz factory in Poland. After manufacturing, JDR will assemble all subsea cables and accessories at its U.K. facilities in Hartlepool. This integrated approach helps ensure consistent engineering, production, and testing from start to finish.
You can learn more about TFKable Group at https://www.tfkable.com.
