The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult’s High Voltage (HV) laboratory has received a £280,000 upgrade to its lightning impulse test capabilities.
The upgrade was funded by InnovateUK and will support the development of HV cable systems and accessories, such as export cables and universal joints.
ORE Catapult said the new lightning impulse generator enables the testing of equipment rated up to 275kV for offshore renewables, as well as for transmission and distribution markets.
It added that the facility can now generate 1050kV peak lightning impulses and 850kV peak switching impulses, which are required for type testing equipment up to 275kV operating levels.
ORE Catapult HV asset and business development manager Alex Neumann said: “With export cables from the UK fleet of offshore wind farms experiencing failure rates higher than anticipated, there is great value in improved testing capabilities and equipment to improve cable performance and reduce maintenance and repair times, by providing, for example, third-party qualification of universal repair joints.”
Image: the lightning impulse generator (ORE Catapult)
Catapult upgrades HV test rig
£280,000 InnovateUK cash used to improve lightning impulse capabilities
By EBS