Energy and marine consultancy ABL Group has been selected by French transmission system operator Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) for Dunkirk grid infrastructure work.

ABL will provide marine warranty survey services to oversee the installation of grid infrastructure at the A03 Dunkirk offshore wind farm in France.

The wind farm will be built 10km north of Dunkirk, in water depths reaching 30m. It will generate up to 600MW from as many as 46 turbines.

ABL’s French operation will assist RTE, ensuring safe delivery of marine transportation and installation (T&I) activities related to the substation and export cables.

ABL France country manager Fabien Thomas stated: “The AO3 Dunkirk offshore wind farm is projected to produce enough clean energy to power nearly one million households. We have a proud history of supporting the grid infrastructure development of France’s first offshore wind projects and collaborating with RTE. We look forward to continuing that important work on Dunkirk.”

ABL's scope of work encompasses the technical review and approval of marine engineering documentation, drawings and procedures related to the project.

The consultancy will also conduct suitability surveys for the proposed fleet and provide on-site attendance to certify approvals and witness the necessary operations.

In addition to supporting the T&I of the offshore substation, which consists of a 2200t 4-leg jacket and piles, as well as a 3250t topside, ABL will also assist with the cable pull-in, laying and protection operations for two 16km long submarine export cables.

In July 2024, ABL secured a contract to provide marine warranty survey services for the Biscay interconnector project, which connects France and Spain via a subsea cable across the Biscay Gulf.