Taihan Cable Secures New Subsea Cable Method for Offshore Wind...Boosts Installation Competitiveness

Four Years of Joint Development with KERI
Immediately Applicable to Offshore Wind Farms
Accelerating Entry into the Subsea Cable Market

Taihan Cable has secured core subsea cable technology that can be immediately applied to offshore wind farms.

Taihan Cable announced on February 12 that it had signed a technology transfer agreement the previous day with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) for a new subsea cable installation method called the "Flexible Vertical Installation System." The company explained that this agreement transfers technology jointly developed by the two organizations over about four years to Taihan Cable, and is highly significant in that it internalizes core installation technology that can be immediately applied to offshore wind farms.

The signing ceremony was held at KERI's main campus in Changwon, and was attended by key officials from both organizations, including Kim Hyunju, Executive Director and Head of Production Technology Division at Taihan Cable; Lee Chunwon, Executive Director and Head of Subsea Business Division at Taihan Cable; Kim Namgyun, President of KERI; and Joo Munno, Head of the Electrical Machinery Research Division at KERI.

Taihan Cable and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute are posing for a commemorative photo at the signing ceremony for a technology transfer agreement and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on technology development. (Third from the left:) Lee Chunwon, Executive Director and Head of the Subsea Business Division at Taihan Cable; Kim Hyunju, Executive Director and Head of the Production Technology Division; Kim Namgyun, President of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute; Ju Munno, Head of the Electric Machinery Research Headquarters. Taihan Cable.

The "Flexible Vertical Installation System" transferred this time is a technology applied at the installation stage where subsea cables transported by cable-laying vessels are brought vertically up into the lower part of offshore wind turbines. Previously, it was common practice to install a metal conduit (J-tube) on the lower part of the wind turbine and route the cable through the conduit for vertical installation. In contrast, this method is designed to enable vertical installation while stably protecting the cable by using a flexible protective structure and dedicated support devices without a separate metal conduit.

This method was developed through a "research project on the construction of subsea power grids for offshore wind farms" jointly carried out by Taihan Cable and KERI with support from the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning. It reduces constraints in the vertical installation process of subsea cables, enabling faster installation and cost savings. It is also being evaluated as a customized technology for offshore wind farms that enhances installation efficiency and long-term operational reliability.

With this technology transfer, Taihan Cable has secured priority rights to the method, thereby acquiring differentiated capabilities that cover not only design and manufacturing but also installation when executing offshore wind projects, and strengthening its competitiveness in the global offshore wind market. The company plans to apply the technology to actual projects to enhance its installation competitiveness and to continuously expand its scope of application in both domestic and overseas markets.

Taihan Cable and KERI also signed a "memorandum of understanding (MOU) for comprehensive technology development cooperation in the subsea cable field" along with the technology transfer agreement. Under this MOU, the two organizations will promote joint research and development across the entire life cycle of subsea cables, including subsea cable characteristics and product evaluation, installation and maintenance technologies, and post-installation diagnosis and monitoring technologies, and will continue their cooperation over the medium to long term.

A Taihan Cable official said, "This technology acquisition is highly meaningful in that it has elevated our competitiveness in subsea cable installation to a higher level," adding, "Based on our collaboration with KERI, we will continue to advance core technologies related to subsea cables and accelerate our efforts to penetrate the offshore wind power market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.