Last week, there was a new arrival at the ElbX crossing: the first three of six cables that will in future route wind power underneath the River Elbe via the SuedLink. This marks a milestone – not least because of the extraordinary dimensions of the cable drums. Each of the three so-called “cable baskets” weighs about 240 metric tons, measures 8.3 meters in diameter, and is about 5 meters high; and each holds an impressive 5,600 meters of direct current (DC) cable rolled up in a single continuous length. The transport operation was likewise remarkable: The three cable baskets were first transported by barge along the waterway, after which self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) took over the onward transport on land. For the temporary storage of these heavy loads, the ElbX construction site boasts a storage area specifically constructed for this purpose with deep foundations comprising 564 piles.
WTM Engineers is working with BabEng as part of the ElbX planning consortium to take care of the planning, construction management, and construction supervision of the Elbe crossing on behalf of our client, TenneT Germany.
