Navigating the Deep: Securing Grid Connections in a Crowded Marine World

As we race to expand offshore wind, are we prepared for the critical bottleneck developing beneath the waves?

The primary challenge for offshore wind development today is no longer just building turbines, but finding the space to connect them to the grid. The seabed is increasingly congested with existing pipelines, cables, fishing grounds, and protected environmental areas, making the consenting process for new transmission cables a major hurdle.

Developers must navigate this complex underwater landscape to secure efficient, sustainable grid connections. Based on insights from Kathy Wood of GoBe Consultants, part of APEM Group, a new multi-faceted approach is essential for success.

The Congestion Challenge

Competition for seabed space requires developers to dedicate significant time and resources to cable route selection to avoid costly project delays. The risks are substantial, with approximately 75% of cable damage caused by human activities like fishing and anchor strikes from other vessels.

The Power of Proactive Planning

Overcoming these obstacles begins long before installation.

• Early Risk Assessment: Conducting thorough constraints analysis and site investigations at the earliest stage is crucial to identify and mitigate environmental, human, and physical risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Early and meaningful conversations with regulatory bodies, fishers, and conservation groups help build collaborative solutions and ensure smoother project progression.

Technology Beneath the Waves

Innovative technologies are transforming how developers plan and execute cable projects:

• High-Resolution Mapping: Advanced remote sensing provides detailed insights into seabed conditions, identifying geohazards like mobile sand waves and boulders before they become a problem.
• AI-Driven Data Processing: Artificial intelligence enables the rapid interpretation of vast geospatial datasets, helping to optimize cable routes and identify risks with greater speed and accuracy.
• Advanced Surveying: Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with high-resolution sonar and other sensors are optimizing marine surveys for better data collection.

As the UK and other nations pursue strategic initiatives like the Holistic Network Design (HND) for a more coordinated grid, a proactive, collaborative, and tech-driven approach to cabling will be paramount. It is the key to securing the reliable grid connections needed to support our net-zero targets.

Discover more about the services helping developers navigate these complexities: https://apemgroup.com/

What do you see as the biggest hurdle for offshore grid development in the coming years? Share your thoughts below.