FEATURE SPONSOR


TRENCHING SPECIALISTS


REDUCED COST – FASTER, HIGHER QUALITY OPERATIONS


The rising cost of power to consumers and increased risk of energy poverty is already causing a concern; ‘Reduced cost – faster, higher quality operations’ are the key market drivers.


Attention is being given to disruptive technologies and processes that enable the installation work to be done more economically with step changes in performance being sought. This innovation is not only taking place in technology but also with the implementation of new business models and financing options which are being offered to the industry. Introducing new technology is not an easy process with new techniques and products requiring rigorous testing and commissioning programmes prior to their first commercial use.


The associated high cost and time to market entry is only warranted if the benefits are visible to the customer and result in the reduced cost of wind electricity generation. The new technology often has to displace existing assets which have not yet reached the end of their economic life, again a barrier to entry. The risk profiles of the projects drives the requirement for proven methods and procedures with new systems only coming into play when a step change in the cost model significantly reduces project costs or reduces the budget allocated for risk, reducing the variation in project completion costs and increasing the likelihood of project go-ahead in the first instance.


CABLING


Cabling has been the subject of concern due to early reported failures in offshore wind farms. New cable oriented protection methods have been specifically developed by Royal IHC which has invested in developing step changes in product performance as well as commercially attractive options for customers. In the process, it has generated protected intellectual


property and now has more live patents associated with subsea trenching than any other trencher manufacturer.


Two of these fully productionised developments are the Hi-Traq and Sea Stallion Power cable plough which are discussed below. They both have a new highly responsive Ethernet based control system in common which has inbuilt self-diagnostic capabilities to simplify maintenance operations. To test this system an automated pressure cycling rig, designed to simulate multiple vehicle dives has been installed to validate system components.


The rising cost of power to


consumers and increased risk of energy poverty is already causing a concern


PURPOSE BUILT TRENCHER The Hi-Traq (High Traction) Trencher is purpose built to provide superior trenching performance and manoeuvrability in difficult seabed topographies and high currents which are common in shallow water environments.


The relatively close proximity of wind turbines compared to other subsea trenching activities such as oil & gas and telecom markets requires high manoeuvrability and improved traction, ‘trenching is not always in straight lines’. The undercarriage system provides superb product grading even in boulder fields, reducing the possibility of cutter stall and consequential remedial action.


Increasing weather window operability is key to reducing project cost but only if the risk associated in the project


BROCHURE VIDEO WEBSITE


is also reduced on this improved operational basis. For this to occur, it is very relevant to consider who is accepting the risk and their incentives to reduce this risk.


SEA STALLION PLOUGH The Royal IHC sea stallion cable plough range has recently been redesigned to improve its performance and stability whilst reducing the operator’s vessel fuel costs and contact on the power cable during installation. The latest power cable plough incorporates the patented pivoting bellmouth to ease the process of plough launch and cable entry into the plough during ploughing operations. The drawbar has been designed to provide up to 20% improved penetration loading in hard sea beds where trenching depths are reduced; the reduced skid loading associated with a lower tow point also reduces vessel fuel costs relative to previous versions.


To reduce the tow loads in dilating soils, the company uses a form of patented tip jetting. This focuses the water supplied to the seabed at the points of highest dilation which reduces the tow load and is more environmentally friendly than full face jetting and the turbidity it can cause.


Royal IHC Limited


www.windenergynetwork.co.uk


39


SCAN/CLICK


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