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Dynamic Cables Pre-termination phase completed for Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm

Prysmian Group has successfully completed the dynamic cables’ pre-termination phase for the Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm (FOW) which is planned to be installed off the coast of France. Pre-termination is a key step that involved pre-installing dynamic cable accessories as well as innovative electrical and optical terminations onto each dynamic cable end that will enable fast and easy installation, disconnection and reconnection on the wind turbine floaters.

The pre-termination works took place at the Company’s dynamic cable center of excellence in Nordenham, Germany in summer 2023, and represent a milestone for Prysmian as this is the first time the Group is delivering dynamic 66 kV cables with these innovative accessories that can “plug in and out”, a feature that will allow offshore floating structures to be swiftly disconnected and moved when needed.

“This is an innovative development because it allows us to connect and disconnect easily, in a seamless way, which was not previously possible.
The floating wind industry is at its beginning, but we can foresee that disconnection will be part of normal maintenance cycles. So, we have redesigned our cable system package to respond to this request and to provide ease of management and handling for the end user.”

 

Alessandro Pistonesi

Senior Project Manager

Provence Grand Large, a floating offshore wind farm consisting of three turbines that is nearing completion in the Mediterranean Sea, is Prysmian’s first turnkey project for the design, manufacturing and installation of a dynamic cables system for a floating park. It is set to demonstrate the viability of a new offshore wind development solution crucial to helping European countries meet the most ambitious carbon reduction targets in the world.

Europe has been at the forefront of the offshore wind industry sector, and now has the opportunity to lead global markets in this important evolution in wind power technology. Until now, offshore wind farms could only be installed in relatively shallow water. But when turbines are affixed to floating platforms, they can be located in the deeper waters found in the Mediterranean Sea. The cables must be “dynamic”, capable of withstanding cyclic mechanical loads due to floater movement, waves and currents for the entire offshore park service life without breaking.

“In the dynamic system, the floating turbines are only connected by cables which can be disconnected,” said Alessandro, explaining this cable innovation. “If the offshore wind generator has to be towed into port, to do heavy maintenance, because there was damage to the generator for whatever reason, our cable can be unplugged so the offshore generator is free to be moved.”

Preparing the pre-termination beforehand in the plant helps to significantly reduce the complexity of the offshore works.

“We pre-installed the dynamic accessories into our factory so that when we pull the cable with the accessories already installed on the floating structure, we just plug it in. It’s a very short operation,” said Pistonesi.

Once completed early 2024, the Provence Grand Large floating offshore wind farm will provide 24 MW of renewable and reliable energy to more than 45,000 people in France. It is located about 17 kilometers from the coastal town of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône (near Marseilles) in water depth of about 100 meters.

This pilot project is being led by EDF Renewables, Enbridge and CPP Investments MC. Prysmian Group will connect the three 8.4 MW turbines installed on floating foundations to the public electricity transmission grid via a 21-kilometre submarine cable and a 9-kilometre underground cable.

IMAGE ©PGL – CAPA CORPORATE