Trelleborg’s offshore operation has completed a series of wet tests to verify the capabilities and functionality of its NjordGuard cable protection system (CPS) for installation and removal on J-tube and monopile interfaces for offshore wind farms.
In addition to passing all the tests, NjordGuard was installed and removed from the test rig without the intervention of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), Trelleborg said.
The testing took place at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre, an open access shallow water testing facility located in Blyth, England. The facility has been testing subsea equipment since 2002 and contains an artificial seabed and two still water test tanks. Trelleborg was able to perform eight full scale wet tests of NjordGuard covering a range of installation scenarios without having to go offshore.
“Deemed a complete success, the tests definitively prove NjordGuard™ is capable of installing into both monopile and J-tube openings and can be successfully removed without the need for ROVs,” John Deasey, Renewables Sales Manager at Trelleborg’s offshore operation based in the UK, said.
“The test results provided a greater understanding of potential installation issues our customers might face such as pull-in and pull-out loads. We also gained valuable insights into the dynamics of the system to help further refine and optimize our designs to optimize performance for our customer’s critical applications. Currently available to the market for both array and export cables, further testing of NjordGuard™ will be an integral part of developing and enhancing the solution to meet our customer needs and further highlights our commitment to supporting renewable energy projects.”