Equinor will reinforce electrical monitoring of the Dudgeon wind farm
Equinor will incorporate a new electrical monitoring system at its 402 MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm in the UK. The Norwegian energy company awarded Proserv a contract to install technology designed to continuously monitor the condition of the cables and their terminations. Deployment will begin in 2027.
Specifically, the project aims to improve the monitoring of an infrastructure that has been operational since the end of 2017. The system will allow for obtaining more information about the behavior of the electrical grid and detecting problems while they are still developing.
Equinor will incorporate Proserv technology in Dudgeon
Under the agreement, Proserv's ECG unit will install its monitoring system to provide continuous information on the condition of electrical cables and their terminations. The goal is to identify signs of deterioration before they can cause interruptions or production losses.
Distributed Electrical Sensing (DES) technology . This system leverages the existing fiber optic infrastructure and uses passive detection to measure current and voltage at different points in the network.
This will allow Equinor to gain a broader understanding of the operation of its electrical assets in an environment located approximately 32 kilometers off the north coast of Norfolk. The distance and offshore conditions mean that having continuous data can reduce the need for on-site inspections.
Monitoring submarine cables will allow for the anticipation of failures.
Monitoring submarine cables is especially important due to the impact a fault can have on the availability of an offshore wind farm . A failure in the electrical infrastructure can prevent some of the generated electricity from reaching the grid.
Therefore, ECG and DES are designed to identify changes in electrical behavior before problems escalate into more widespread failures. The combination will allow monitoring of both the physical condition of the cables and various electrical parameters of the network.
Furthermore, earlier detection can facilitate more targeted interventions; Equinor would thus have the possibility of planning work based on the actual condition of the assets instead of relying solely on periodic inspections or responding after a breakdown.
This approach aligns with a broader trend in the monitoring of electrical networks ; continuous monitoring systems allow for the detection of progressive signs of wear and tear and enable maintenance to be planned before an outage occurs.
Dudgeon will move towards data-driven maintenance
Starting in 2027, data obtained through Proserv's systems will allow Equinor to gain a more detailed understanding of the performance of Dudgeon's electrical infrastructure. This can help reduce unplanned outages and limit generation losses associated with cable or termination issues.
At the same time, the information will allow operations and maintenance tasks to be focused on the components that truly need attention. The expected result is a reduction in unnecessary offshore interventions and improved work planning.
In this regard, Proserv views the installation as a transition from a model that responds to breakdowns to a more proactive approach to asset management. The company believes that having continuous data can improve the reliability of the infrastructure throughout the park's operational life.
Furthermore, Dudgeon will expand the use of ECG technology within projects related to Equinor. Offshore Magazine notes that this system has also been used or selected at facilities such as Hywind Scotland and Dogger Bank .
The Dudgeon offshore wind farm has been operating since 2017
Currently, Dudgeon has an installed capacity of 402 MW and consists of 67 turbines of 6 MW each . The park began producing electricity after its completion at the end of 2017.
The facility also generates enough renewable electricity to power over 430,000 UK homes. Its location off Norfolk necessitates managing a large electrical infrastructure in a challenging access environment.
Finally, Dudgeon belongs to Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited , the joint venture is made up of Equinor as operator along with Masdar and China Resources.
With nearly a decade of operation when the planned deployment begins in 2027, the addition of continuous monitoring systems will allow Equinor to have more information on the condition of the electrical components. This measure aims to extend the reliability of Dudgeon and reduce the risks associated with failures that could affect its generation.
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