The Global Underwater Hub (GUH) has thrown down the gauntlet, publishing a white paper that doesn’t mince words about the elephant in the room: subsea cable systems are the Achilles’ heel of the UK’s offshore wind ambitions. With over $800 billion earmarked for global offshore wind farms by 2030, and the UK aiming for a whopping 50GW of installed capacity by the same year, the stakes are sky-high. Neil Gordon, CEO of GUH, pulls no punches, stating, “This scale of expansion… can only be achieved by installing and maintaining hundreds of thousands of kilometers of reliable subsea cables.”
But here’s the kicker: these cables are a nightmare to maintain. They’re prone to damage during installation and operation, leading to hefty insurance claims and costly downtime. It’s a problem that’s only going to get worse as floating offshore wind, which requires even more complex dynamic cables, becomes more prevalent. Gordon highlights the elephant in the room, “Cable reliability not only makes offshore wind projects more economically viable but also ensures the energy supply is uninterrupted. It is therefore paramount not only to developers, investors, and the industry but also to the whole country, which will increasingly rely on the power that passes through them.”
So, what’s the plan? GUH is calling for a united front, a ‘UK Subsea Cable System Forum’ to drive innovation and improvements in systems-based design, data sharing, and quality control. The forum will be led by an industry steering committee, working with partners across the sector to develop a roadmap for the future. This isn’t just about the UK; it’s a global opportunity. With a world-leading installed base of offshore wind capacity and a strong project pipeline, the UK is poised to lead the way in subsea cable systems. But it’s not all smooth sailing. There are hurdles to overcome, from supply chain constraints to cost escalation. And unlike fixed offshore wind, floating offshore wind has few standards and no established supply chain. But here’s where the UK can shine. Starting with this ‘clean slate’ and leveraging the vast experience from the oil and gas industry, the UK can create a new generation of products and services that will unlock this emerging sector.
This is more than just a call to action; it’s a challenge to the status quo. GUH is pushing for a holistic approach, avoiding duplication and fostering collaboration to deliver the standards required for a new generation of products and services. This could shape the future of the sector, setting the UK as the go-to hub for reliable subsea cable systems. But it’s not just about the UK; it’s about setting a global standard. If the UK can crack this nut, it could accelerate the development of floating offshore wind, helping to hit those net-zero targets and ensuring a clean, reliable energy supply for generations to come.
