Dynamic cables, connectors, protection and other ancillary equipment are critical components in floating offshore wind projects. They represent a single point of failure for a turbine (inter-array cable) or the whole project (export cable). In offshore wind more generally, cable technology has not proved to be as reliable as assumed in design and procurement activity. Issues include damage incurred during handling / installation, fatigue failures, manufacturing issues and cable exposure / re-burial.
This report from the Floating Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence considers inter-array cabling systems and ancillary components for FOW in the UK, between now (2021) and 2050. The work presented is intended to provide a best estimate of the future market requirements for dynamic cabling systems. The primary focus is on supply of equipment, but required services are also discussed.
This report does not make an assertion as to the current capability or capacity of the supply chain in specific areas, it purely sets out to estimate the size of the demand on the supply chain in order to deliver dynamic cable systems for UK FOW projects and highlight potential export opportunities.
