ORE Catapult Adds Hardware to Tackle Cable Failures

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has upgraded its lightning impulse (LI) test capabilities to help offshore wind operators reduce export cable failure rates.

The GBP 280,000 upgrade, funded by InnovateUK, enabled ORE Catapult to add a new Lightning Impulse Generator to its High Voltage (HV) Laboratory which enables the testing of equipment rated up to 275kV for offshore renewable applications, as well as transmission and distribution markets.

As the industry moves towards larger capacity AC cables at export voltage levels up to 275kV and greater HVDC connections, ORE Catapult can now generate 1050kV peak lightning impulses and 850kV peak switching impulses, which are required for type testing equipment up to 275kV operating levels, the company said. This surpasses the previous peak capability of 350kV.

According to ORE Catapult, the impulse generator can also be used for superimposed lightning and switching impulse testing that is part of HVDC cable pre-qualification and type testing requirements.

Alex Neumann, ORE Catapult’s HV Asset and Business Development Manager, said: “With export cables from the UK fleet of offshore wind farms experiencing failure rates higher than anticipated, there is great value in improved testing capabilities and equipment to improve cable performance and reduce maintenance and repair times, by providing, for example, third-party qualification of universal repair joints. With this investment, we are supporting the very latest cable developments in offshore wind.”

In February 2016, ORE Catapult upgraded the lab’s adjustable high voltage reactor and paved the way for the 33kV to 66kV shift for offshore wind inter-array electrical systems.