Global Underwater Hub Publishes Guidelines for Undersea Cable Monitoring
Global Underwater Hub (GUH) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the resilience of critical undersea energy infrastructure by releasing guidelines for undersea cable monitoring. The trade and industry body, representing the UK’s underwater industry worth USD$12.4 billion (£9 billion), will introduce these guidelines at the upcoming Subsea Cable Insurance Conference in London on July 2.
The annual conference is dedicated to improving the reliability and performance of undersea cables to make them more insurable. This year’s event will bring together insurance companies, developers, and supply chain experts to delve into the main causes of failures, proactive interventions, and integrity monitoring management.
Collaborating with leading industry providers, GUH has developed recommendations for best practices in selecting, installing, and utilizing cable monitoring systems. These guidelines aim to enhance the health and performance of crucial undersea cables, which are highly vulnerable to catastrophic failures.
With the increasing capacity of offshore wind farms, the integrity and reliability of undersea power cables have become paramount. These cables serve as the vital links connecting offshore wind farms to onshore grids, ensuring the smooth transmission of electricity generated by wind turbines.
However, current cable failure rates pose a threat to global offshore wind ambitions. Analysis by energy data company TGS suggests that failures are projected to triple over the next decade. The Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan emphasizes the need to reduce cable failures by approximately 80%.
The guidelines released by GUH offer a comprehensive overview of cable monitoring practices, spanning from the initial stages of cable design and manufacture to their operational lifecycle. This publication marks a significant stride in GUH’s ongoing efforts to unite the industry in enhancing the reliability and performance of undersea power cables.
Earlier this year, GUH published a White Paper outlining the challenges and proposing a solution for the UK to address cable performance and reliability, positioning itself as a global center of excellence for subsea cable systems in floating offshore wind.
GUH has also established the UK Subsea Cable System Forum to drive standards and policies that reduce risk and boost the performance of undersea cables. Through a collaborative roadmap led by an industry steering committee and partnerships across the sector, the forum is spearheading innovation and enhancements in undersea cables from design and manufacture to installation and maintenance.
The guidelines can be accessed for download here.