The Tektube cable protection system, which is designed for jacket structures, tripods and gravity based foundations, replaces the need for conventional steel J-tubes, which protects power cables when they are connected to subsea foundations.
Tektube has also been optimised to be installed onshore rather than offshore, in contrast to other products, which the company claims will reduce installation time, complexity and costs.
Before being transported to the offshore wind site, the Tektube is secured to the wind turbine foundation, and sealed, ready to accept the power cable from the cable installation vessel.
Jack Simpson, Tekmar’s business development manager said: "This product gets rid of the J-tube and cable protection system – this is a two-in-one product.
While there are extreme variances between prices of J-tubes and cable protection systems, Simpson said J-tubes can cost EUR75,000 and cable protection systems can cost around EUR20,000.
Simpson said: "This one product costs a quarter of the price. Installation is cheaper too. This is a bit of a game changer. Cabling represents about 7% of the cost of installing turbines but historically 70% of the insurance claims - it's a very risky element. We need this to reduce risk and reduce cost."
Tektube has been developed using the same methods as the company’s Teklink system, which connects and protects subsea power cables into monopole foundations.
