INSTALLATION OF SUBMARINE CABLES IN THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

"This article presents the main methods of installing submarine cables used in the offshore wind industry and the impact they have on the marine environment. From this article, the reader will be able to understand the basic principles that are taken into account from the design phase of a submarine cable, principles that seek to streamline their installation, operation and maintenance and their impact on the marine environment. Given the scale of the development of the wind industry, especially offshore, the length of submarine cables that provide energy transport from the wind farm to shore consumers is also constantly growing. The construction and operation of offshore wind energy systems has been and continues to be regarded with scepticism by environmental activists. Despite the undeniable benefits of this renewable energy source, the impact on the marine environment must also be taken into consideration. We studied the most efficient methods of installing submarine cables in the offshore wind industry – study which also includes analysing the behaviour of submarine cables and analysing ships’ movement during cable transport and installation. This article is only part of a major research on the installation of submarine cables in the offshore wind industry. In terms of the frequency and relatively short duration of submarine cable installation operations, on a small strip of up to 8m, the disturbances and impact caused by these operations are considered minor and are preferred compared to bottom trawling operations and dredging, which are repetitive and more extensive. A single impact, such as cable burial operations, is preferred to continuous, multiple or recurrent impacts. [1] "