State-of-the-art cable designs
Wet designs are state-of-the-art streamlined cable designs.
They allow the elimination or simplification of the metallic water barrier screen, which is a key negative contributor to cable production costs.
When lead is used in dry cable designs, its consumption can exceed 6.5 tons for one km of cable (3×150 mm2 66 kV). Alternatively, welded copper or aluminum are mostly used.
In wet or semi-wet design, lead is no longer used, and copper/aluminum consumption is reduced, thanks to a state-of-the-art simplified screen design.
Additionally, the welding step is also eliminated from the cable production.
Get additional benefits by using BorlinkTM Copolymer WTR XLPE and Borlink semiconductive materials:
- Lowest total cost of ownership: (click or scroll for graph)
- Highest reliability: (click or scroll for graph)
New solutions for a better fit
To match installation growth targets, the implementation of floating wind plays a key role in the success of energy transition (considering that exploitable shallow waters for offshore wind installations are nearly finished).
To better fit the dynamism and mechanical requirements of this new type of installation, new solutions are tested.
Thus, by eliminating or simplifying the metallic water barrier screen, wet inter-array cable designs enable:
- Reduced mechanical limitation and improved dynamic performance, which results in better resistance to mechanical fatigue and allows better dealing with floating wind operating conditions
- Lighter cables up to -38% in weight/km and reduction of overall cable diameter up to -12%, which facilitate transport and installation conditions
- More “space” in the cable to embed monitoring, diagnostic and self-healing solutions for dynamic control of the cable system’s operating conditions
Foster a more sustainable future
Using fewer materials and replacing substances of concern are ways to foster a more sustainable future.
Via the elimination/simplification of the metallic water barrier screen, wet designs bring:
- Reduced cable carbon footprint due to reduced metals consumption
- Less CO2 intensive production, transport, and installation steps
- Lead replacement
Get additional benefits by using Borlink Copolymer WTR XLPE and Borlink semiconductive materials:
- Available with BornewablesTM Renewable feedstock to lower carbon footprint by 1.88 kg CO2eq/kg Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Fully recyclable XLPE with high re-use value potential. Optimal fit for recyclability among insulation- semiconductors- jacketing
- Lowest power losses during cable life cycle
- Lowest scrap rate and energy consumption
- Minimum use of additives and chemicals, thanks to the maximised polymer content in the Borlink Copolymer WTR XLPE; Less methane emissions during crosslinking
Lowest total cost of ownership
- Faster line speed up to +20%
- Longer productions runs +25% to +30% (days)
- Less scrap rate -20% to -30%
Highest reliability
- Best in class water tree retardant (WTR) performance, with all conductor types
- Copolymer WTR offers superior performance
- Risk reduction: Thanks to longer production runs, it is possible to considerably reduce the number of joints and related risk
- Assurance delivered: Ad hoc service-quality-availability package to minimise risks of a complex project execution. Including Borlink semiconductive materials
