Osbit’s Cable Test Rig Showcased at ORE Catapult’s National Floating Wind Innovation Centre

Cable installation equipment specialist Osbit showcased its ‘first-of-a-kind’ cable fatigue test rig at the high profile launch of Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s flagship National Floating Wind Innovation Centre in Aberdeen’s Energy Transition Zone today, Monday 18^th March.

Humza Yousaf MSP, First Minister of Scotland joined 150 VIPs, dignitaries and offshore wind industry experts at the launch of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s new Floating Wind Innovation Centre.

Designed, built and tested in their Port of Blyth facility, Osbit delivered and installed its cable test rig as part of a multi-million-pound project for ORE Catapult for its new floating offshore wind facility, which is set to accelerate the commercialisation of floating offshore wind projects.

The facility – a collaborative programme between the internationally recognised ORE Catapult, along with industry and academic partners – will fast-track floating offshore wind by providing world class testing facilities for R&D and certification of new technology.

Osbit’s 60t cable fatigue test rig is at the heart of the centre’s development, enabling ORE Catapult to offer globally leading cable testing capability to its customers, and maximising power cable reliability.

Responding to recently updated CIGRE TB862 industry requirements, Osbit has created a highly innovative design to carry out dynamic fatigue testing of subsea cables and bend stiffeners connected to offshore floating wind structures.

Osbit’s unique design provides a vast range of test capability and configurability allowing for adjustability for cable diameters and lengths, tensions and bend radii. The system is highly optimised for tension stability and simplified drive mechanisms for long machine life and efficient running.

Andrew Macdonald, Director of Offshore Wind Development and Operations at ORE Catapult, said, “Osbit have stepped up to the challenge of developing a versatile and future-proofed test rig that will reduce the technical risks of floating wind projects in the UK and around the world. Dynamic cables are one vital element of the technology jigsaw involved with floating wind, and rectifying problems with offshore cables is a costly and time-consuming business. So, it’s vital that we understand and prevent potential cable failures as part of the technology development process. Osbit’s unique test rig, combined with our facilities and comprehensive research and engineering capabilities, will enable this.”

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