Qualification and design requirements for cable protection systems (QUADRE CPS)

As the world increasingly shifts towards renewable energy, offshore wind energy emerges as a crucial component. This transition, however, presents unique challenges, particularly with subsea power cables used in offshore wind farms. The QUADRE CPS joint industry project (JIP) aims to refine the qualification and design of these cable protection systems (CPS), crucial for ensuring the integrity and functionality of subsea power cables.

The challenge with current CPS designs

The offshore wind industry faces significant challenges with the existing CPS designs applied at wind farm foundations. These challenges include inadequate protection and failure to account for hydrodynamic loads near foundation structures, which are often underestimated in current design practices. These issues can lead to premature cable failure, posing substantial risks and costs to wind farm operations.

Objectives and scope of the QUADRE CPS JIP

The main goal of the QUADRE CPS JIP is to develop and standardize a robust design philosophy for CPS used in offshore wind applications. This involves a comprehensive review of current design codes and the development of new guidelines that address the unique conditions of offshore wind farms. The project will focus on understanding failure modes, refining design methodologies, and incorporating hydrodynamic loading considerations into CPS designs.

Project update and opportunity (November 2025)

The QUADRE JIP is successfully underway, building significant momentum and delivering key results on schedule.

Status: Strong collaboration, tangible results

Structured around five core technical work packages, the JIP has already secured strong backing from 11 industry-leading partners. This group provides comprehensive representation from the entire value chain, including cable suppliers, CPS suppliers, installers, and developers/operators.

This diverse collaboration is the JIP's greatest strength, fostering a setting where all perspectives are considered to tackle the industry's most complex system-level challenges.

Key achievements to date:

• Two successful in-person workshops hosted at DNV headquarters.
• Delivery of two critical technical reports:
  • Interface management and system responsibility
  • Cable and cable protection system failure modes at freespan

Coming up: Shaping the next wave of technical guidance

We are now launching the next crucial work packages, focusing on translating our initial findings into actionable, industry-leading guidelines.

• Design requirements
  • Objective: To review current design codes against the failure modes identified in our initial work, pinpointing critical gaps in today's practice.
  • Deliverable: A technical report providing new, targeted design guidance to close these gaps.
• Qualification requirements of CPS
  • Objective: To create a tailored guideline for CPS qualification, drawing on DNV-RP-A203 and broader DNV experience to address the specific gaps identified above.
  • Deliverable: A practical guideline focused on solving the specific challenges identified in the 'Design requirements' work package.
• Analyses and methodology for CPS and cable systems
  • Objective: To evaluate and provide guidance on robust analysis methodologies. This includes novel work, such as considering the complex flow around foundations — a factor historically overlooked but known to have adverse effects on the in-service integrity of cable systems.
  • Deliverable: A technical report detailing a pragmatic and efficient methodology to ensure sufficient robustness in cable and CPS design.

Status

The joint industry project was officially kicked off in April 2025, and will run to Q2 2026.

The following companies participate in the JIP:

• Three CPS suppliers
• Three installers
• One cable supplier
• Four developers/operators

An opportunity to join and shape the industry

The final deliverables of this JIP are being formatted to serve as a direct foundation for future updates to key DNV service documents, including DNV-ST-0359, DNV-RP-0360, and DNV-RP-C205.

This is the key value for partners:A unique opportunity to directly influence and shape the next generation of industry standards.

Due to significant and growing interest, we are actively exploring an enrichment of the current scope and the addition of new optional work packages.

We are now inviting new partners to contribute their expertise to this final, critical phase. Joining now is the perfect time to help define these new work streams and ensure your organization’s perspective is embedded in the future of offshore cable and CPS guidelines.