ABB today announced the launch of its new 525 kV cable system, which sets world record for extruded HVDC cable technology, doubling power flow and extending range to enable greater integration of distant renewables and interconnections.
These 525 kV systems can transmit so much more power – up to 2,600 MW in a cable pair, underground or subsea. This equals the power generated by several large nuclear power plants, or more than 500 large wind power plants. This HVDC system enables the transmission of more power over longer distances in a more compact way than traditional AC power transmissions. The cables can also be used underground where it is difficult or impossible to use overhead lines, e.g. for environmental concerns or in city in-feed applications.
A cable system comprises cables, joints and terminations. This system’s modified cross-linked polyethylene (XPLE) cable insulation material was developed in cooperation with Borealis, a leading manufacturer of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) products. This material is extruded onto a copper or aluminum conductor. A 525 kV joint based on rubber technology was developed for prefabricated underground applications, i.e. when cables are delivered on drums for land applications. Also, an in-house factory joint for sea applications was developed for jointing batches of cables into a long length loaded onto a ship. The 525 kV terminations are inspired by ABB’s high-voltage bushing technology.
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