Global Underwater Hub Forms Taskforce to Improve Subsea Cable Reliability and Performance

Global Underwater Hub (GUH) published a white paper on its approach to tackling a crucial issue that could derail the UK’s clean energy ambitions. The trade and development body, representing the UK’s £ 9.2 billion underwater industry, has set out how it aims to improve the performance and reliability of subsea cable systems, critical elements of offshore wind infrastructure essential to transmitting electricity from offshore wind farms to the grid.

Globally, over $ 800 billion of investment in offshore wind farms is anticipated by 2030, and for the world to hit net-zero emissions by 2050, the generating capacity from offshore wind must increase by a staggering 1,120 GW. Closer to home, the UK government has set ambitious targets of 50GW of installed capacity by 2030.

Neil Gordon, chief executive of GUH, said: “This scale of expansion, in both fixed and floating offshore wind, can only be achieved by installing and maintaining hundreds of thousands of kilometers of reliable subsea cables. “The performance and reliability of these cables are therefore crucial to delivering the UK’s clean offshore power ambition and global net-zero targets. But these cables are highly susceptible to damage during installation and operation, leading to substantial insurance claims and costly