Prysmian Group is launching what it describes as a new breakthrough cable technology that will ensure better environmental sustainability, higher electrical performance and lower costs.
Prysmian Group is launching what it describes as a new breakthrough cable technology for the development of power transmission grids that will ensure better environmental sustainability, higher electrical performance and lower costs. The group has announced the successful development and testing of its new P-Laser 525 kV cable system for high voltage direct current (HVDC) applications.
"This is a significant and important new technology" stated Massimo Battaini, senior vp of Energy Projects at Prysmian Group. It can, says Prysmian, deliver unique environmental performance with lower carbon dioxide emissions and using fully recyclable materials
P-Laser is the name given to the technology, which permits more efficient cable production with lower environmental impact than traditional XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene). Manufacture is performed in a single and continuous process and does not require chemical reactions to achieve the properties required for the long term electrical integrity of HVDC insulation systems. This feature gives the benefit of shorter production times and results in both reduced energy consumption as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions. P-Laser is particularly suitable for HVDC applications, and it is the first HVDC cable that can be fully recycled at system end-of-life.
In terms of performance P-Laser technology is said to be fully compatible with existing cable and accessory technologies, and provides better electrical performance and a higher material integrity for HVDC in comparison to traditional XLPE-insulated cables. In terms of efficiency it has higher thermal performance properties, which increase the power transmission capability of the cable system for a given conductor size, thereby enabling average overall cost reductions of approximately 10% per transmitted MW.