Subsea connector specialist First Subsea has supplied cable connectors for the second phase of the Fukushima Floating Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration, offshore Japan. Two First Subsea connectors have been used to connect 22kV cables to the facility’s floating 66kV power substation, in preparation for the arrival of a 7MW wind turbine in Phase 3, and another floating wind turbine in Phase 4 of the Fukushima project.

In Phase 1, two First Subsea cable connectors were used to connect 22kV cable to a 2MW wind turbine and the substation, and a third cable connector for a 66kV cable connection to the floating substation. The new 22kV cable connections link the substation to pre-installed subsea cable joints close to the eventual positioning of the wind turbines in Phases 3 and 4.

“We are delighted that our cable connectors have been chosen for this landmark offshore wind project,” said John Shaw, managing director, First Subsea Ltd. “In Phase 2 we’ve once again demonstrated the ease of installation of the cable connectors offshore.” 1

The Fukushima floating pilot wind farm project, which is headed up by The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan, will lay the foundation for the world’s largest offshore wind development off the coast of the Fukushima Prefecture, according to project managers. It is being developed by a consortium comprised of Marubeni (project integrator), the University of Tokyo (technical advisor), Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Marine United, Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation, Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Shimizu, and Mizuho Information & Research.

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1. The First Subsea cable connector has a self-activating, ball and taper mechanism allowing both diverless and ROVless deployment offshore. The male connectors are guided into receptacles on the wind turbine and substation and, once engaged, cannot be released until the load has been removed. A simple disengage mechanism allows the connector to be disconnected and recovered for re-use. The cable connection enables significant savings in vessel time, and greater installation flexibility to cope with changes in weather conditions offshore.