EMEC to Share Its Knowledge on Subsea Cabling

European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd, based in Orkney, will share its knowledge on the performance of subsea cabling in high energy environments to support the development of commercial wave and tidal energy sites.

Funded by The Crown Estate, the project will see EMEC and Engineering Technology Applications Ltd (ETA) carry out a review of existing data to assess the reliability of subsea cables installed in the harsh wave and tidal conditions at EMEC’s test sites at Billia Croo, on the west coast of Orkney, and the Fall of Warness, off the northern island of Eday.

With its first cables installed over 10 years ago, EMEC has collected considerable amounts of data. Numerous routine remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys have been undertaken to examine structural integrity alongside comprehensive electrical cable testing.

The aim of the project is to collate and review this information and provide a report on the resulting performance of the cables.

Matthew Finn, EMEC’s research coordinator remarked:

“With over 10 years of experience in operating the world’s leading marine energy test facility, EMEC has built up a mass of knowledge, skills and expertise, but has also collected a colossal amount of supporting data. It is essential that we can utilise this data to support the needs of the nascent marine renewables industry.

“This project demonstrates that the learning attained at our real sea test sites extends beyond that acquired by the marine energy developers. Being the first centre of our kind, we have had to learn a lot over the years, and there is still more to be understood, much of which is transferrable to the development of commercial sites.”

The report will cover cable armouring, marine growth, anthropogenic interactions, and cable movements, as well as the electrical and communications performance of the cable, and will take various factors into consideration including seabed type, current speed, wave loadings, cable usage, cable type, and installation methods.

Mike Nichols, Director at ETA Ltd added:

“To date we have routinely avoided laying cables in high tidal current areas. The availability of cable performance data is therefore very limited. With the advent of offshore marine current turbines we have no option but to route them through these areas and this study gives us a vital opportunity to start building a valid database.”

Press release, March 19, 2014; Image: emec