Submarine power cables

This classroom training course focuses on submarine power transmission cables. Participants will obtain a holistic view and sound understanding of the various issues and topics that make submarine cables unique.

In the recent years we have seen a significant increase in the use, length and capacity of submarine power cables in various sectors. In the offshore wind sector, for example, an important driver behind this increase is the transition to renewable energy resources. Any failure in such a submarine cable has a huge impact. Repair costs are immense due to the inaccessible locations and specialised resources required. Meanwhile, the need to wait for favorable weather means service downtime can run into months, causing severe production loss and reputation damage. 

Although the cables account for just a small percentage of the total investment in the required equipment, the potential failure-related costs mean that investors want to mitigate risks. Despite the existence of various standards, guidelines and recommendations, there is no overall quality standard for the cabling process from start to finish. Using the offshore wind sector once again as an example, facets such as turbines are covered but not the cables, which currently account for the major part in insurance pay-outs on offshore wind farms. The design, manufacturing, testing and commissioning of a submarine cable thus need to be carefully implemented, including quality assurance and quality control in each phase. 

This course will address and highlight the entire submarine cable life cycle, providing participants with a holistic view and sound understanding of submarine power cables and their accessories.

Subjects:

• Introduction
• Marine survey
• Cable system design parameters
• Cable design parameters
• Cable accessories
• Cable installation
• Quality assurance and quality control, inspections and testing
• Maintenance and failure investigation

Target Audience:
Parties with an interest in improving the quality of submarine cables, including: cable manufacturers, cable installers, offshore energy project developers, TSOs and DSOs, energy utilities, energy project investors and insurance companies.