What is SeaThor Ltd?
SeaThor was founded by subsea cable and analysis experts to deliver specialised services for the offshore energy sector. With over 50 years of combined experience in managing projects looking at offshore cable lifecycles, from design to deployment, SeaThor has in-depth understanding of the challenges facing the sector, and how to address them. The business uses configuration and stress analysis software to define the level of fatigue and protection that a cable requires in an offshore environment.
Developing technology for industry advancement
Power cables are a core component of the rapidly expanding offshore wind energy market. However, cable failures are responsible for around 80% of insurance claims associated with fixed bottom offshore wind farms. Cable failures occur when cables exceed their mechanical limits, resulting in excessive tension, compression or curvature of the cable, or due to cable fatigue which happens when cables are exposed to abrasive seafloors or high velocity environments. While cable failure is a significant issue at fixed bottom offshore wind farms, it is compounded at floating offshore wind installations, where the wind, currents or waves can result in extensive lateral-movements.
SeaThor is committed to advancing the floating offshore wind sector and has developed CableSpring – a patented dynamic cable protection system – which comprises buoyance uplift and integrated bend-protection, creating an expanding spring-like system around a cable.
Working with ORE Catapult
SeaThor was selected for ORE Catapult’s Launch Academy in 2023 – a critical time for development of their CableSpring technology. The guidance and exposure that Launch Academy provided was instrumental in shaping subsequent development plans and providing the funding and confidence to take the technology forward.
Following Launch Academy, SeaThor has continued the journey with ORE Catapult through grant funding via the UK/US Floating Offshore Wind Supply Chain Acceleration Bilateral (FLOWB) programme. As part of this programme, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, SeaThor has been able to industrially research and develop SeaThor’s innovative CableSpring, for application to offshore and floating offshore wind projects.
The FLOWB programme enabled a comparison analysis of the CableSpring system, fatigue testing of CableSpring components at ORE Catapult’s Floating Wind Innovation Centre (FLOWIC) in Aberdeen, and environmental testing of Cable Spring in real-life conditions at the FaBTest marine development site near Falmouth.
The initial comparison analysis confirmed the benefits of CableSpring when comparing full fatigue life with current state of the art dynamic cable protection systems. The fatigue test at FLOWIC was completed on a section of CableSpring where 396,000 cycles were completed against different deflection angles, with no evidence of damage or wear to the stiffener sections.
The environmental ‘wet’ trial at FaBTest involved a section of CableSpring being deployed for a few days in the water to observe and validate the modelling that had already been completed. A huge amount of feedback, knowledge and experience was gained and has already been implemented into the next generation of models and designs, including stiffener thickness levels and component interface optimisation.
Plans
During FLOWB, the development of CableSpring went from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2/3 up to 5/6, demonstrating that the technology is now ready for real-world deployment in pilot floating offshore wind farms.
In five years, it is predicted that commercial floating offshore wind farms will be in development, and SeaThor hope to capitalise on this with multiple full size wind farm orders. Until then, they hope to zone in on their preferred route to market – either through direct supply and strategic partnerships or technology licensing agreements.
