NKT Enters Wave Power Market with New Cables Testing

NKT is entering the market for wave power with the testing of power cables for the new wave power project in Norway.

NKT has embarked on the journey to produce energy from the sea and has developed two cables designed to withstand the continuous movements of the waves, the company said.

The low and medium voltage cables are currently being tested in a pilot project Northwest of Norway in collaboration with the Swedish company Waves4Power, which has developed the purpose-built wave power system.

“We see a huge potential in the future of wave power, and as a leading power cable provider NKT naturally wishes to join the innovative companies working to develop this potential. NKT is committed to designing cables that will shape the future by enabling efficient and sustainable energy transmission. It is therefore a logical step for us to be a partner in this ambitious project,” said Frida Norrbom Sams, executive vice president and head of Applications covering low- and medium voltage cables in NKT.

For the project in Norway, NKT has developed extremely dynamic 1 kV cable as well as a semi-dynamic 24 kV export cable that transports the energy produced to the shore. Both cables are also being tested in cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology in the high voltage test centre at RISE institute of Sweden.

“The new 1 kV cable is extremely dynamic and can withstand the constant bending produced by the wave movement, and it has been designed based on our experience with industrial and universal cables. The core of the cable has three copper conductors and a very low mechanical friction. Unlike a normal offshore cable, it does not have an armoured sheath but is reinforced with aramid yarn which makes it very tough and flexible,” Frida Norrbom Sams added.