WCA May 2016

10 / 64

8 Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2016
Industrynews
Connecting the largest
floating wind turbine
❍ The connector being loaded onto the cable at Fukushima floating offshore wind farm demonstration
Graphics bigstockphoto.com Artist Eky Studio
FIRST Subsea has been awarded a contract to supply a
cable connector for the third phase of Japan’s Fukushima
floating offshore wind farm demonstration.
In this latest phase of the project, the connector will be used
to connect 22kV cable to the world’s largest floating wind
turbine.
First Subsea has provided all cable connectors for both
22kV and 66kV cables on the project.
In phase 1, two First Subsea cable connectors were used to
connect 22kV cable to a 2MW wind turbine and a floating
substation, and a third cable connector for a 66kV cable
connection to the substation.
In phase 2, cable connectors were used for two 22kV
cables from the substation to subsea cable joints close to
the eventual positioning of the wind turbines in phases 3
and 4.
In phase 3, the First Subsea cable connector will complete
the connection of the subsea cable joint to the 7MW floating
wind turbine.
First Subsea’s connector has a self-activating ball and taper
mechanism, allowing offshore deployment without divers or
the use of an ROV.
The male connectors are guided into receptacles on the
wind turbine and substation and, once engaged, cannot be
released until the load has been removed. A simple
disengage mechanism allows the connector to be
disconnected and recovered for re-use.
The self-activating connection offers significant savings in
vessel time, and greater installation flexibility to cope with
changes in weather conditions.
First Subsea Ltd – UK
Website: