Articles techniques et présentations

Subsea power cables are critical assets in offshore wind farms, yet their behaviour is governed by strongly coupled electrical, thermal and environmental conditions. As offshore wind projects move towards higher power ratings, larger turbines and floating foundations, cable systems are exposed to increasingly complex operational profiles, including variable power generation, changing seabed thermal conditions, dynamic loading and localised stress concentrations. These conditions create a need for more detailed modelling approaches that can support both design assessment and operational decision-making.

This work presents recent advances in offshore wind cable modelling using COMSOL Multiphysics, with a focus on coupled electromagnetic and thermal analysis of high-voltage subsea cable systems. The modelling approach is used to calculate conductor, screen and armour losses under representative operating conditions, and to evaluate their impact on temperature distribution, hotspot formation and current-carrying capacity. Particular attention is given to how boundary conditions, loading profiles and cable configuration influence the thermal response of offshore wind cables.

The work also explores how COMSOL-based models can support condition monitoring and digital twin development. By linking simulated loss and temperature profiles with operational inputs such as current loading, ambient temperature and burial conditions, the model can provide physics-based indicators for asset health assessment and anomaly interpretation. This creates a pathway for combining multi-physics simulation with monitoring data, such as distributed temperature sensing, to improve understanding of cable behaviour during operation. The overall COMSOL-based modelling workflow and its link to condition monitoring and O&M decision support are illustrated in Figure 1.

The proposed modelling framework contributes to more informed cable design, testing and maintenance planning for offshore wind applications. It highlights the value of physics-based simulation in reducing uncertainty, identifying critical operating conditions and supporting the development of more reliable cable systems for future fixed and floating offshore wind farms.