Replacing aging undersea 69kV cables while limiting environmental impacts

Fundy Isles Submarine Cable

When NB Power was faced with replacing their existing undersea 69 kV cables from mainland New Brunswick, Canada, to the Fundy Isles, they brought us in to cover surveys, assessment studies, and design. We partnered with local consultants and aimed to provide a cable replacement solution which was cost effective, environmentally sound, and delivered to meet a tight installation schedule. 

The existing undersea cables were approaching the end of their expected 40-year life, and they were installed in  one of the most heavily fished and lucrative fishing grounds in North America. The busy and environmentally sensitive area meant that the multi-year project needed a double armored, three-core design that provided protection from fishing activities as well as an implementation plan that limited the impact on local fisheries, marine wildlife, migratory birds, and species at risk.

We led the cable route design team through geophysical surveys, cable landfall approach methods, design revisions to the existing cable riser stations, cable technical specifications, and the environmental impact assessment studies.

Replacing the submarine cables with a new and a more robust cable design has improved the reliability of this vital power supply to the Fundy Isles. Plus, having this link to the mainland offers the Fundy Isles a far more environmentally friendly energy supply option than running diesel-fueled generation assets, and the addition of fiber-optic cables provides future opportunities for the islands.