Prysmian to play a major role at “GRIDS 2010: the backbone of Europe's energy future”

Prysmian, will play a major role at GRIDS 2010, two-day conference and exhibition organised by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) 23-24 November 2010 in Berlin, (bcc, Berliner Congress Centre, hall C – stand C2).

GRIDS 2010 will explore the key financial, technical, policy and regulatory issues that will shape the development of a grid that meets Europe's energy, consumer and climate needs, with over 500 key players and stakeholders with an interest in grid issues including utilities, transmission system operators, cable manufacturers and installers.

Prysmian will be present in the exhibition with a stand within the “Friends of the Super Grid” (also “FOSG”) pavilion, major sponsor of the event. As part of its commitment to support the development of smarter and greener power grids, the Group has joined “Friends of the Super Grid” as one of the founding members of this representative body aimed at progressing policy towards the construction of a pan-European Offshore Supergrid by combining companies in sectors that will deliver High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) infrastructures and related technologies, together with companies that will develop, install, own and operate that infrastructure.

Among the initiatives aimed at speeding up the transition towards the use of power generated by low carbon sources, Prysmian is also one of the key players within the industrial partnership patronised by the French Government aimed at studying the feasibility and the realisation of the trans-Mediterranean super-grid “Transgreen” that shall carry renewable energy from Northern Africa to Europe, as part of the Mediterranean Solar Plan (MSP).

At GRIDS 2010, Prysmian’s prestige as undisputed technology leader in products for applications in the Power Transmission industry is complemented and reinforced by the Group’s presence within the conference sessions programme. On Wednesday, November 24 ^th within a session dedicated to “Social Acceptance and Planning” Marcello Del Brenna, CEO of Prysmian Powerlink and official representative of Europacable (the European Confederation of National Associations of Manufacturers of Insulated Wires and Cables) will speak about “Partial undergrounding of extra high voltage power transmission lines as a facilitator to bring renewable power to consumers in Europe”.

GRIDS 2010 comes at a time of important developments for Prysmian’s leadership in the industry of land and submarine power transmission cable systems, following very closely the recent awards of major contracts that set a number of milestones in the industry like BorWin2, in Germany will be the first commercial ± 300 kV DC cable project using extruded technology (highest direct current voltage level ever reached) and the first 800 MW connection to offshore wind parks and the largest VSC system with a capacity of 800 MW.

These achievements again demonstrate Prysmian’s leading position and the validity of the Group’s know-how and technologies in the development of state-of-the art cables for power transmission and the commitment to support smarter and greener power grids worldwide. Among other projects in which Prysmian has recently been involved in the field of power transmission both on-shore and offshore are some of the most strategic and technologically advanced developments such as Trans Bay Cable (USA), SA.PE.I. (Italy), Romulo (Spain), Doha Bay Crossing (Qatar), Walney, Ormonde, Gunfleet Sands, Thanet, Greater Gabbard and Alpha Ventus offshore wind farms in the North Sea and FORCE in Canada, an innovative project aimed at exploring the potential of tidal power generation.