Dynamic cable design validated for floating offshore wind use

Athens, 22^th  September 2021

The project consortium aims to develop conceptual and basic engineering for a hybrid concrete-plastic floating windfarm, looking at innovative solutions for anchoring and mooring systems, and dynamic cabling, including performance testing. Its objective is to improve cost-efficiency and increase robustness and flexibility in floating wind subsea design for deeper waters from 100 to 600 meters.

Consortium partners Innosea, an AqualisBraemar LOC Group ASA (ABL Group) company, Hellenic Cables, ITA, and the University of Exeter have successfully completed the dynamic cable scope of work.

As part of the dynamic cable scope, Hellenic Cables with ITA completed the design and engineering of an innovative braided armour for the protection of the cross-section of the dynamic cable. This consisted of the application of an outer jacket made of carbon fibre reinforced composite, in addition to the development of a solution for sensor integration and interconnection of fiberoptic sensors for structural condition monitoring.

“FLOTANT seeks to open the possibility to develop floating wind in even deeper waters than is possible today, unlocking potential for far greater wind power resources at a lower cost. The innovative braided armour cross-section design of the dynamic cabling in such extreme water depths is pivotal to the project’s success”, says Mattias Lynch, engineering director at Innosea, a leading engineering, design, and R&D consultancy specialising in marine renewables.
The project is coordinated by Dr. Ayoze Castro, head of Innovation unit of Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN). It includes 17 partners from eight countries, including Innosea, which was appointed to the consortium to provide a range of services across six of the consortium’s work packages – including for the dynamic cable and export system optimisation.
Innosea was also responsible for the configuration analysis of the dynamic cable, while testing and validation of mooring and dynamic cables were conducted at the Dynamic Marine Component (DMaC) of the University of Exeter, UK.

The next phase of the project for Innosea will be to finalise the floater global performance analyses to confirm its suitability versus project defined sites.
“Our participation in the project has given us the opportunity to take part in the development of reliable, sustainable, and cost-efficient dynamic cables for even deeper water applications for offshore floating wind. The study and design of innovative dynamic low weight cables that could be used in severe conditions was a great challenge. Due to the excellent collaboration with all partners, we expect that positive results and conclusions will be reached in the final part of the project,” says Anastasia Moraiti, design engineer at Hellenic Cables.

“Floating offshore wind (FOW) power will be a vital component of the EU strategy as we move toward a net-zero economy. It will also have a profound effect on the local economies in European countries, creating new jobs in the supply chain and providing a key component for our post-pandemic recovery. The development of reliable highly dynamic power cables will be an essential part of the emerging FOW industry, and we are encouraged through the innovation developments that have been achieved within FLOTANT.” Stated Prof Lars Johanning of The University of Exeter.

Hellenic Cables is one of the largest cable producers in Europe, manufacturing power and telecom cables as well as submarine cables for various industries, including offshore wind and utilities, as well as undertaking turnkey power transmission and distribution projects. Through its fully owned subsidiary Fulgor, Hellenic Cables operates its submarine cables plant in Corinth, Greece, where the production and testing of some of the longest submarine cable lengths without factory joints on a worldwide basis is empowered by the Company’s state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Since 2012, Hellenic Cables has implemented a EUR 250 million-investment plan for the production of high and extra high-voltage submarine cables at Corinth plant. Hellenic Cables represents the cable production segment of Cenergy Holdings SA. For further information, please visit Hellenic Cables website at www.hellenic-cables.com.

Cenergy Holdings is a Belgian holding company listed on both Euronext Brussels and Athens Stock Exchange, investing in leading industrial companies, focusing on the growing global demand of energy transfer, renewables and data transmission. The Cenergy Holdings portfolio consists of Corinth Pipeworks and Hellenic Cables, companies positioned at the forefront of their respective high growth sectors. Corinth Pipeworks is a world leader in steel pipe manufacturing for the oil and gas sector and major producer of steel hollow sections for the construction sector. Hellenic Cables is one of the largest cable producers in Europe, manufacturing power and telecom cables as well as submarine cables for the aforementioned sectors. For more information about our company, please visit our website at www.cenergyholdings.com.