Prysmian reaches key milestone in the field of Power Grids for the Energy Transition

Prysmian Group has reached a key technology milestone in the field of Power Transmission, thus confirming its preminent role and commitment to support the energy transition. The world leader in the cable industry announces the successful development and testing of the first 525 kV extruded submarine full cable system for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) applications.

This breakthrough innovation in cable technology will enable a massive increase of the maximum transmission capacity of bi-pole systems up to more than 2.5 GW, which is more than double the value achieved with 320 kV DC systems currently in service. The one-year prequalification testing was carried out per international standards including CIGRE TB-496 and witnessed by a third-party certification body.

“Prysmian Group has always been at the forefront in the development of innovative and advanced technological solutions for power grids, namely land and submarine cable systems for HVDC applications”, stated Valerio Battista, CEO Prysmian Group. “This new milestone confirms our commitment and prominent role in the development of power grids infrastructure, key for the energy transition”, he concluded.

HVDC cable links are key components of sustainable energy systems, to transmit large bulks of electricity over long distances, often across or between countries. This achievement will put Prysmian Group in a unique position to support the forthcoming tenders for submarine interconnectors aimed at granting efficiency, flexibility and reliability of power grids.

“On the heels of the successful industrialization of 525 kV HVDC underground cables for the 3 German HVDC links projects, we are ready to extend this innovative technology for submarine cable systems to enable our customers in the continuous effort towards the energy transition by further reducing the costs of offshore wind and minimizing the environmental impact.” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects Business Unit.

For this new voltage class of submarine cable systems, the company leveraged an extensive and in-depth knowledge of materials and the capability to improve manufacturing processes, thus successfully facing the challenge of optimising a reliable industrial process with strict technological parameters and providing an entire system of cable and accessories - including flexible factory joints, rigid repair joints and sea-land joints - with the best dielectric properties.

“We are proud to lead the industry towards the milestone of 2 GW submarine power transmission, being capable to offer the industry best suite of advanced HVDC and HVAC cable systems, including our proprietary P-Laser and MI-PPL technologies” added Srinivas Siripurapu, Chief Innovation and R&D Officer.