Fukushima Floating Wind Farm Uses First Subsea’s Cable Connectors

Cable connectors for the Fukushima floating wind farm project, offshore Japan, are supplied by First Subsea to connect 66kV and 22kV cables to a 2MW wind turbine and floating substation.

The facility’s floating 66kV power substation is the first of its kind for the offshore wind energy industry.

Three First Subsea cable connectors have been deployed on the Fukushima wind farm. The diverless cable connection provided significant savings in vessel time, and greater installation flexibility to cope with changes in weather conditions offshore.

The First Subsea cable connector has a self-activating mechanism allowing diverless deployment offshore. The male connectors are guided into receptacles on the wind turbine and substation and, once engaged, cannot be released until the load has been removed. A simple disengage mechanism allows the connector to be released and recovered for re-use.

“The ability to provide a high integrity, cable connection that is simple and quick to deploy, yet easy to remove, are what makes the First Subsea cable connector ideal for offshore wind and wave renewable energy projects,” says John Shaw, managing director, First Subsea Ltd. 

Press release, November 14, 2013; Image: First Subsea