A £2.1m investment has been ploughed into boosting offshore testing capabilities in Northumberland.
The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has announced the investment into a new offshore wind cable testing rig at the Catapult’s base in Blyth, thanks to funding from the North East Combined Authority.
The funds will allow the Blyth Catapult to build a new high voltage (HV) electrical test facility, with new equipment to carry out pre-qualification testing on HV cable systems.
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The system will put kit to the test by applying extremely high voltages and currents to cables, creating stresses above operational levels in a real-world environment.
The testing space will also allow the cable to be installed in different conditions, including buried and submerged in salt water, to test its capabilities.
At the moment this type of testing can take up to two years and there are no facilities within the 海角视频. The new development will speed up 海角视频 production, shorten time to market for new technology and deliver improved cable system reliability.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “We are making the North East the home of the green energy revolution and I am pleased we are funding projects like this amazing new offshore wind cable testing rig in Blyth to make this a reality for local people. This will be the only facility like this in the 海角视频 – underpinning the North East’s status as the 海角视频’s leading region for clean energy.
“We are funding innovation, skills and infrastructure needed to deliver our mission and provide thousands more high-quality jobs in clean energy. This new testing facility will be a great regional resource, helping to boost safety and skills in the offshore sector.”
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ORE Catapult will work with organisations within the cable manufacturing sector across the 海角视频 and around the world.
International cable manufacturer JDR Systems is the first to sign up to use the facility, which is due to open at the end of next year.
James Young, chief strategy and compliance officer at JDR Cable Systems said: “We’re proud to be the first partner to collaborate with ORE Catapult on this new high-voltage cable testing facility. The investment marks an important step in strengthening the 海角视频’s capability to test and qualify next-generation offshore wind cable systems domestically.
“It’s also a milestone for the 海角视频 offshore wind sector, enabling faster development and qualification of advanced cable technologies that will power the industry’s next phase of growth. At JDR, we see this as a natural extension of our commitment to innovation and to building a resilient 海角视频 supply chain that supports the rapid expansion of offshore wind energy both in the 海角视频 and globally.”
Alex Neumann, ORE Catapult’s Chief Engineer in HV Electrical, added: “This development forms the next step of our plan to ensure ORE Catapult’s Blyth facility remains at the cutting edge of testing - enabling the rapid growth and expansion of the offshore wind technology we need to see in the coming years.
“By investing in this new facility and ensuring it links up with the high voltage, mechanical and materials test laboratories we already operate, we can help cable system designers and manufacturers develop products faster. This will also galvanise local and national supply chain companies to grasp the economic prize on offer.”