Integrated 525 kV solutions to enable the energy transition

As the energy transition gathers speed, new renewable energy generating capacity is driving a shift to super-powerful extruded High Voltage 525 kV cables that carry nearly double the amount of power across land and submarine interconnections. Prysmian Group’s integrated solutions for High Voltage systems give it the longest value chain in the business, helping its customers meet their energy goals quickly, more effectively and at a lower cost.

“For the energy transition, we are not just selling products. We are selling systems. And this makes the big difference,” says Detlev Waimann, Chief Commercial Officer, Projects BU.

Prysmian Group’s integrated 525 kV extruded solutions for the energy transition encompass all stages of a land or submarine project, spanning every phase from design and engineering knowhow to cable manufacturing, and then to land or submarine installation with the group’s continually expanding fleet of state-of-the art vessels. Power cables can be bundled with telecommunications cables produced by Prysmian in house and monitored by electronic sensors to improve performance and maintenance produced by Prysmian’s EOSS (Electronics and Optical Sensing Solutions) division (created by the merger of Prysmian electronics with the Swiss Omnisens). Lastly, Prysmian’s highly trained staff both in the labs and the field have all the tools necessary to deliver projects on time and on budget.

Prysmian Group has now been awarded its first 525 kV extruded submarine system in the Netherlands.

“We have the largest integrated submarine cable, land cable and marine capacity in the market, and that creates an added value for the customer,” says Waimann.

The role of 525 kV in the energy transition

As windfarms and solar parks become larger and more common, the need to transport renewable energy from the remote areas where it is produced to the homes, factories and businesses where it is needed becomes increasingly urgent. The market is therefore moving from 320 kV DC systems carrying 1.3 GW to 525 kV DC systems that can carry more than 2 GW to assure the needed speed of the energy transition.

A quick look at the math shows the crucial role of 525 kV. Europe aims to add an additional 300 GW of renewable offshore wind energy by 2050 (each GW can power a maximum of approximately 750,000 homes). With 320 kV cables, this would require some 25 installation campaigns. Installing the higher-capacity 525 kV cables allows grid operators and utilities to cut that number to 15.

“Reducing the number of installation operations saves money, cuts time for permitting and therefore speeds up the implementation process”, increasing overall projects efficiency",explains Waimann.

The advantages of cost and speed are why 80% of future infrastructure projects in Prysmian’s order portfolio call for 525 kV DC systems.

“So far the projects using 525 kV extruded technology like the German HVDC Project’s underground north-south cables links are still in progress,” says Waimann. “But we can already declare that this is the technology of the future.”

Detlev Waimann

Chief Commercial Officer, Projects BU

Table of contents

Integrated 525 kV solutions to enable the energy transition

The role of 525 kV in the energy transition

“So far the projects using 525 kV extruded technology like the German HVDC Project’s underground north-south cables links are still in progress,” says Waimann. “But we can already declare that this is the technology of the future.”

Detlev Waimann

525 kV milestone projects

A-Nord

SuedLink

SuedOstLink

IJmuiden Ver Alpha and Nederwiek 1