A series of impressive milestone innovations have culminated in the successful development and testing of the new P-Laser 600 kV cable system for High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) applications. This undisputed technological advantage helped Prysmian secure leadership in the transmission of large bulks of electricity over long distances, often across or between countries and through submarine connections.

Prysmian Group recently announced it was ready to launch a new breakthrough cable technology for the development of power transmission grids that will ensure higher electrical performances, lower costs and better environmental sustainability: the new P-Laser 600 kV cable system for High Voltage Direct Current applications. But it was just the last chapter of a decadeslong success story that gained impressive momentum in the last year or so. Prysmian has always been at the forefront of developing innovative, ground-breaking technological solutions for power grids, namely cable systems for High Voltage applications. So the Group could leverage extensive knowledge of materials and the capability to improve manufacturing processes. All of this allowed Prysmian to overcome the challenge of optimising a reliable industrial process with strict technological parameters and provide entire systems of cable and accessories with the best dielectric properties.

Helping build sustainable energy systems.

The process has accelerated since late 2015 with the creation of a series of impressive milestone innovations that confirmed the Group’s prominent role in the creation of cutting-edge technologies for HVDC power transmission solutions, such as the 600 kV MI PPL insulation technology. These cable links are key components of sustainable energy systems, to transmit large bulks of electricity over long distances, often across or between countries, such as those being developed in Germany. Over the years, Prysmian has successfully developed, tested and delivered the first-ever 200 kV and 320 kV HVDC projects using extruded insulation cable technology. Recently, it has established a world-class track record of nine cable projects completed or currently ongoing 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, such as BorWin2, BorWin3, HelWin1, HelWin2, DolWin3 and SylWin1.

New breakthrough technologies launched in a few month time.

In December 2015, Prysmian gained verification of its higher voltage cable system technology for offshore wind inter-array networks. This followed the successful completion of type testing of its 66 kV cable system in accordance with CIGRE and IEC test protocols, as part of the Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator programme. The new milestone was a further advance along the path towards the development of innovative, sustainable and cost-effective cable solutions for the offshore renewable power industry. In April 2016, the Group made a further step forward by launching P-Laser 525 kV cable system for High Voltage Direct Current applications – a new breakthrough cable technology for the development of power transmission grids that ensures better environmental sustainability, higher electrical performance and lower costs. It is, in fact, a significant and important new technology that shapes the progress of HVDC in the cable industry, confirming once again the Group’s undisputed leadership in driving technological innovation within the sector. Just one month later, Prysmian Group reached two further record-breaking milestones in the field of power transmission, with the successful development and testing of the new 700 kV Mass Impregnated-PPL and 600 kV extruded cable systems for High Voltage Direct Current applications. It was the first time in the cable industry that voltages at these high levels have been achieved and also the first developments in cable technology that enable HVDC power transmission systems beyond 3 GW per cable bipole.

Shaping the progress of an entire industry.

The final breakthrough cable technology for the development of power transmission grids that will ensure higher electrical performances, lower costs and better environmental sustainability is the new P-Laser 600 kV cable system for High Voltage Direct Current applications. This is a monumental milestone that shapes the progress of the entire High Voltage Direct Current cable industry, by reaching 3.5 GW per bipole, the highest power rating ever, with cost reductions of up to 30% per transmitted MW. Successful testing at 600 kV further proved the quality and robustness of the P-Laser insulation technology, with its application to HVDC underground and submarine systems marking a world first in the cable industry. These milestone achievements, realised in less than one year, further mark Prysmian’s undisputed commitment to continuous innovation and the Group’s technology leadership.