Full-length cable health diagnostics for offshore wind array and export cables

Cable failures are one of the most common and costly causes of downtime in offshore wind. Damage often builds up unseen over time, from installation stress and seabed movement to wear around cable protection systems where the cable enters the foundation. External inspections only show the outside of the cable.

Wirescan has specialised in cable condition assessment since 2005. Its LIRA® (Line Impedance Resonance Analysis) technology measures the cable itself. From a single connection at the termination, it assesses the full cable length and locates degradation such as mechanical damage, moisture ingress and faulty joints. The method is non-destructive, needs no subsea intervention, and is referenced in CIGRE Technical Brochure 825, Maintenance of HV Cable Systems (2021).

How operators use it:

• Commissioning: a baseline after installation that documents cable condition before handover
• Operation: periodic condition trending with LIRA® One, or 24/7 monitoring of energised cables with LIRA® Live
• Maintenance planning: degradation located early, so repairs can be planned instead of forced by an outage

The result is fewer unplanned outages, more targeted inspections and a documented record of cable condition over the asset's lifetime.