VIDEO A new rig to test offshore floating wind and tidal energy subsea cables is to be unveiled by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in a cost saving effort. ORE Catapult claim the cable bend fatigue rig will “support the development, and improve the performance and reliability” of subsea cables. The rig, a 15-tonne structure designed by Northumberland-based firm Osbit, is capable of testing floating wind and tidal cables, carrying out operational research and acting as a representative test bed for subsea cable projects. ORE Catapult say the vast majority (80%) of offshore wind project insurance claims are through “cable-related failures”. Alex Neumann, ORE Catapult’s electrical infrastructure Asset Manager, said: “ORE Catapult is a leading independent expert in the test, validation and certification of High Voltage (HV) electrical systems. “By adding the new test rig to our UKAS-accredited HV laboratories, we are able to fully integrate our extensive suite of specialist test and measurement facilities and engineering expertise to provide a better understanding of failure modes and in so doing improve the efficiency, performance and resilience of subsea cable systems.” Brendon Hayward, managing director of Osbit, added: “We are pleased to deliver a bespoke testing system to support ORE Catapult in advancing the global development of subsea cables. This project is a great case study showing how we employ our risk-mitigating programme delivery system to develop appropriately engineered solutions, fully aligned with our client’s requirements.”
Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced the deployment of a new cable bend fatigue rig designed to save money wasted through cable-related failures. The ORE, which is based in San Francisco, California, will be deployed on an offshore platform at the end of this year and begin testing its design with a fleet of vessels that are currently moored off ORE Catapult estimates that 80% of insurance claims related to offshore wind projects derive from cable failures, with the system designed to reduce costs and drive innovation in the sector.