SLPE is excited to announce it has been awarded the prestigious contract to develop two HVDC OSS substructure detailed designs for Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) on behalf of Chantiers de l'Atlantique. This project encompasses the Centre Manche 1 and 2 offshore wind power projects and marks a significant milestone for SLPE as its largest offshore substation project to date.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique has awarded Smulders, through its subsidiary, Iemants, the contract for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the two OSS substructures. SLPE, another subsidiary of Smulders, has been entrusted with the structural and geotechnical detailed design work. The comprehensive design phase will span the next 2.5 years, with the installation of the CM1 and CM2 substructures scheduled for 2029 and 2030, respectively.

Located in French waters off the coast of Normandy, the Centre Manche 1 (A04) and Centre Manche 2 (A08) substations are critical components for the wind farms. With each substation boasting a capacity of 1.25 GW, each jacket structure is projected to weigh approx. 7,000 tonnes.

Luke Jacques, Associate Director of SLPE, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "We are immensely proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative with RTE and Chantiers de l’Atlantique. This project not only represents our largest renewable substation undertaking, but also signifies our entry into the HVDC market. Our team can’t wait to get going on this work and we’re eager to bring our expertise and innovation to help scale up the production of offshore renewable energy.

“The Centre Manche projects will play a pivotal role in advancing France's ability to bring more clean energy to the grid. We are committed to delivering designs that ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency. This is a remarkable opportunity for SLPE to contribute to the renewable energy landscape on an extraordinary scale”.