Jack Simpson of Tekmar talks to PES about how an innovative system for connecting and protecting subsea power cables is contributing to cost reduction across the lifespan of wind farms and beyond.
As governments of the world look to cut carbon emissions and reduce society’s dependence on traditional energy sources, one of the main deciding factors in whether this proves to be a success will be the bottom line of the balance sheet.
As such, improving the cost efficiency of projects will be a key factor in ensuring the long term sustainability of the offshore wind industry.
To make this a reality, it is imperative that operators and developers make sound choices in selecting a supplier to provide not only initial cost savings but also sustained value through the life of a project. Having products which are tailored to meet the job in hand and compliment the development over the longer term will keep the true cost to a minimum.
The expense spent on cable protection systems on a wind farm is much more than the investment involved in procuring the kit. Testing, training, logistics and the true cost for the installation of the products are key costs that are often overlooked.
Cable protection systems are made up of a variety of components that work together to interface and protect cables as they transition from the seabed to a fixed offshore structure. A high quality system should last for more than the full service life of the wind farm.
As an example, the correct cable protection system can provide significant savings when it comes to installation vessel costs. Choosing a protection system which is designed and packaged to be optimised for the offshore installation means the cable installation vessel can spend less time preparing the protection systems and more time installing cables.
The sums can quickly add up when you take into account the repetitive nature of cable installation on an 80-turbine wind farm project.
Every wind farm has different challenges, the sea bed and met-ocean conditions can vary significantly, and it is important to be able to provide the protection systems which meet the individual need of each development.
