The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and North East Combined Authority have announced a £2.1 million investment in a new offshore wind cable testing rig at the Catapult’s Blyth site.
Funded by the North East Combined Authority, the project will create a high-voltage electrical test facility capable of applying extreme voltages and currents to cables under real-world conditions.
The rig will simulate environments such as buried, ducted and saltwater settings to assess cable reliability and accelerate technology qualification, with testing times expected to be cut dramatically.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “We are making the North East the home of the green energy revolution and I am pleased we are funding projects like this amazing new offshore wind cable testing rig in Blyth to make this a reality for local people. This will be the only facility like this in the UK – underpinning the North East’s status as the UK’s leading region for clean energy.”
She said the project would fund “innovation, skills and infrastructure” to create thousands of high-quality jobs in the region.
JDR Cable Systems will be the first company to use the facility, due to open in late 2026. Chief strategy and compliance officer James Young said: “We’re proud to be the first partner to collaborate with ORE Catapult on this new high-voltage cable testing facility in Blyth. The investment marks an important step in strengthening the UK’s capability to test and qualify next-generation offshore wind cable systems domestically.”
He said the new rig would “enable faster development and qualification of advanced cable technologies that will power the industry’s next phase of growth.”
ORE Catapult chief engineer for HV electrical Alex Neumann said the new capability “forms the next step of our plan to ensure ORE Catapult’s Blyth facility remains at the cutting edge of testing” and will “help cable system designers and manufacturers develop products faster.”
Development of next-generation offshore wind cable technology represents a £19 billion market opportunity for the UK over the next decade, according to ORE Catapult.