Cable Testing Solutions for Wind & Solar Farms

The fastest-growing energy source in the United States is renewable energy, primarily from hydro, wind, and solar power. Within the group of renewable energies, solar generation is projected to be the fastest-growing source of electricity in the future, increasing from 11% to 48% by 2050 [1]. The US is also one of the largest and fastest-growing wind markets in the world and considerable investments are being made, or plans to be made, inland and offshore wind farms [2]. The expansion of the renewable energy sector requires immense investments in infrastructure, with significant respect given to underground cable systems. As with all underground cable systems, these must operate with very high reliability and maintain a long service life expectancy to ensure the uninterrupted distribution of power.

[1] Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

[2] Department of Energy – Wind

Very Low Frequency Testing Solutions

Very low frequency (VLF) is an excellent testing solution for the very long cable systems that typically run from wind or solar farms. When comparing power frequency (60 Hz) to VLF (0.01 – 0.1 Hz), there is a 600x to 6000x less power and current requirement when testing at the same test voltage. This allows relatively small, portable, and lightweight instruments to be used in the field for testing of long lengths of cables. Read more: The Basics of VLF Testing

VLF testing solutions can be used during all aspects of the cable lifetime – for installation, acceptance, and maintenance tests. Incorporating diagnostic techniques, such as tan delta and partial discharge (PD), helps to detect and locate potential problems before cable failures occur. Tan delta measurements are a precise and non-destructive method to provide important information on the extent of aging in cable insulation. PD measurements with source localization capability allow direct allocation of PD activity on cable segments, joints, or cable terminations to determine where the exact weak spots are. A failure during service equates to a significant loss in revenue of the wind or solar farm operator and costs associated with repair or replacement of the cable system. Read more: VLF Diagnostic Cable Testing

VLF Withstand Testing:

VLF Tan Delta Testing:

VLF Partial Discharge Testing: