KONEKTA2's main advantages are focused on the reduced manufacturing cost and on the quick and simple maneuver, that can be performed from the surface avoiding the use of big vessels, cranes nor ROVs. The current prototype is at real size for 13.2kV and after more than six months submerged there have been successfully proven and tested the following aspects:

• Integrity of the connector (mechanically, corrosion).
• Sealing of the inner elements.
• Provided protection to the umbilical cable (inside and outside the connector).
• Validation of the mooring system design.
• Feasibility of the installation, manipulation and decommissioning maneuvers.

During this period KONEKTA2 has suffered from waves of Hs>5.5m with no affection to any of the installed elements and all the maneuvers have been performed with small boats available at any seaport.

Due to these successful results and to the previously obtained Approval in Principle certificate from Bureau Veritas, Ditrel is working on collaboration agreements for connecting wave, offshore wind, tidal and current devices and multi purpose platforms to the grid. In this sense Ditrel is developing a new connector within the HARSH consortium project. This project aims to design, build and install one multi purpose laboratory (HARSH LAB) in Bimep to help other companies developing their products for marine environments.

The tests have been supported by EVE Grant Program for Investment in the demonstration and validation of emerging renewable technologies 2015, Ref. MARINA 2015 001.

About Ditrel

Ditrel Industrial S.L. is a private company with more than 35 years of experience manufacturing bolts for the electric onshore market. In 2014 took the strategic decision of diversifying its range of products and began one R&D project about electric connections for the Marine Renovable Energies. Its name is KONEKTA2 and the product is ready for commercial agreements since the end of 2017.