Offshore Renewables

PALM Quick
Connection System

With funding from Wave Energy Scotland and the Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, Apollo has developed an innovative quick connection system (QCS) for floating offshore renewables.

Nigel Robinson
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Key areas of support

The PALM QCS has been developed to expedite the efficient hook-up and disconnection of cables and/or moorings for floating offshore renewables devices.

Typically, maintenance strategies for floating systems are based around tow to port. This can be expensive in terms of the marine spread and lost generation time.

The PALM dramatically reduces these costs by simplifying the connection and disconnection operations to the winching action of a conventional tow tug.

The PALM QCS has a unique, mechanical system that guides the electrical and/or mechanical wet mate connectors together using only the action of a winch wire

Proof of concept was demonstrated during in water trials during Summer 2022. The team are getting ready for extended reliability trials in the second half of 2023.

  • Key facts
    • The PALM QCS is a mechanical system that enables the mating of 3rd party electrical wet mate components.
    • Solutions are available for cables only, moorings only and combined cable and mooring systems.
    • Based on current market availability, electrical capacities of 45kV are available, with 66kV connectors approaching readiness.
    • Mechanical connection is fully scalable up to 1100t minimum break load
    • Spread and single point moored options.
  • Key features of the PALM QCS
    • Receptacle integrated with the floating renewables structure.
    • Unique passive guide structure moves the plug into and out of position using the tug’s winching action.
    • All degrees of freedom implemented.
    • Coarse guide systems to align and orientate the plug in the receptacle.
    • Plug component preinstalled with mooring and cable systems.
    • Electrical wet mate connector and fine guide components.
    • Load shoulders for mechanical load path.

Contact us

To find out more about how the PALM QCS can be deployed to reduce costs on your project or asset, please contact palm@apollo.engineer

Interested? For more information on PALM Quick Connection System please get in touch

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