South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution has completed the installation of export cables for the 364.8-megawatt (MW) Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind project, the company said, marking a key milestone in the development of one of the country’s significant renewable energy projects.
The project, located off the west coast of South Korea, is expected to generate enough electricity to supply approximately 250,000 households once operational.
Taihan used its dedicated cable-laying vessel Palos to install two 28-kilometre export cable lines in a two-phase operation. The first phase was completed over two weeks in May, with the second concluding in early July.
“Palos has proven both its stability and installation capabilities by successfully completing cable-laying in the demanding West Sea region,” a Taihan official said. “Leveraging our turnkey competitiveness from production to installation, we anticipate creating diverse opportunities in upcoming large-scale offshore wind projects and the West Coast HVDC Energy Highway.”
The next stage of the Yeonggwang Nakwol project will involve the installation of inter-array cables, also manufactured by Taihan, starting later this month.
Launched in November 2023, Palos is the only cable-laying vessel of its kind based in Korea and was designed specifically for submarine cable operations. Taihan noted that the vessel achieves installation speeds five to six times faster than conventional barges and maintains operational stability even in challenging marine conditions. Its flat-bottom hull also allows for shallow-water access, enhancing deployment flexibility.
Taihan said the completion of the export cable installation demonstrates the company’s integrated capabilities in submarine cable solutions, from manufacturing to deployment, amid growing demand for offshore wind infrastructure in the region.
