Danish marine technology company MacArtney has developed a wet-mate connector, which is a new way to connect and disconnect power. The wet-mate connector is a 1kV device that enables two power cables to be linked together underwater.
According to Social.tidaltoday.com, the project was successfully demonstrated and completed in April 2012.
A MacArtney spokesman stated: “The use of these higher voltage wet-mate connectors in future arrays is expected to lead to considerably lower installation, operating and maintenance costs, and more rapid deployment of marine energy arrays.”
Simon Cheeseman, marine programme manager at the ETI , added that there could be some new breakthroughs in this field, “We’re seeing advances to securing things to the seabed.”
Also, engineers have discovered new ways to make the cables more secure.
The costs of turbines can be cut. Richard Church, marine technology manager at RWE Innogy stated: “Once you understand how a turbine performs better you can understand where you can make cost savings in terms of design.”
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Offshore WIND staff, October 03, 2012; Image: OpenHydro