Global demand for offshore wind farm cables has soared in recent times as work to scale up the deployment of turbines intensifies.
And a new report from trade body RenewableUK released today shows the market for wires is poised to grow exponentially over the course of this decade.
There are two main types of subsea power cable, array cables, which connect turbines to the offshore substation, and export cables, which take the power from the substations to the main power grid onshore.
According to the RenewableUK report, “Offshore Wind Project Intelligence Report – Cables Edition”, about 40,000 miles of array cables are expected to be installed globally by the end of 2030.
That is compared to less than 6000 miles that were installed by the end of 2020.
Nearly 25,000 miles of export cables are forecast to be laid worldwide by the end of the decade, up from around 4660 miles at the end of last year.
The biggest offshore wind markets are expected to be China, UK, USA, Sweden and Vietnam as the top five countries with the largest project pipelines.
Significant demand is also anticipated in Germany, Ireland, Taiwan and Australia.
© Supplied by Peter DevlinRenewableUK’s Executive Director Isabel DiVanna said: “This report reveals that the global offshore wind cable market is set to grow six times bigger over the course of this decade than it was in 2020. It demonstrates the enormity of the opportunities for companies in the UK and elsewhere which are manufacturing and installing hi-tech cables for projects worldwide, by setting out exactly when, where and how the market will expand between now and 2030.”
The report is being published at RenewableUK’s cables 2021 conference, which takes place today in Newcastle.
The annual event provides opportunities for offshore wind developers to meet manufacturers, installers and insurers.
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