Prysmian reaches technology milestone in power transmission

Successful development and test of new 525 kV cable System for HVDC Applications

The new technology allows doubling capacity for more efficient and cost-effective power transmission grids

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry has reached an important technology milestone in the field of Power Transmission and today announces the successful development and testing of its new 525 kV extruded cable system for high-voltage direct current (HVDC). Testing, witnessed by a third party certification body, was carried out as per CIGRE testing protocols (CIGRE TB-496).

This breakthrough innovation in cable technology will enable a massive increase of the maximum transmission capacity of bi-pole systems up to more than 2.6 GW (depending on thermal environmental and installation conditions), which is more than double the value achieved with 320 kV DC systems currently in service.

Prysmian Group has always been at the forefront in the development of innovative technological solutions for power grids, namely cable systems for HVDC applications. For this new voltage class Prysmian leveraged an extensive and in-depth knowledge of materials and the capability to improve manufacturing processes, thus facing successfully the challenge of optimising a reliable industrial process with strict technological parameters and providing an entire system of cable and accessories with the best dielectric properties.

“This important milestone reconfirms our commitment and prominent role in the sector of cutting-edge technologies for innovative HVDC power transmission solutions”, stated Massimo Battaini, Senior Vice President Energy Projects at Prysmian Group. “We are proud to be able to offer the most advanced technologies for power transmission, including our proprietary 600 kV MI PPL insulation technology (which grants even more performing cable system reaching up to 3.3 GW) to our customers, namely Transmission System Operators” he added.

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 in a good position to support the forthcoming tenders for cable system undergrounding projects along HVDC corridors, such as those being developed in Germany.

Over the years Prysmian have successfully developed, tested and delivered the first-ever 200 kV and 320 kV HVDC projects utilising extruded insulation cable technology and have gathered a world-class track record of 9 cable projects completed or currently on going for voltage classes up to 320 kV, including the Trans Bay in San Francisco, The France-Spain and the Italy France underground interconnections and the large offshore wind cluster interconnections off the coast of Germany (BorWin2, BorWin3, HelWin1, HelWin2, DolWin3 and SylWin1).