Dynamic cable design validated for floating offshore wind use

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 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 armor for the protection of the dynamic cables cross-section. 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 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 optimization.

Innosea was also responsible for the configuration analysis of the dynamic cable, while testing and validation of mooring and dynamic cables was conducted at the Dynamic Marine Component (DMaC) of the University of Exeter, UK.

The next phase of the project for Innosea will be to finalize 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.

FLOTANT is a collaborative project funded by EU Research and Innovation programme Horizon 2020 under the Grant Agreement nº 815289. It is composed of 17 partners from 8 European countries.