“This is a high-impact technology that sets the standard for HVDC advancement in the cable industry and further confirms our undisputed leadership as drivers of technological innovation in the sector,” says Massimo Battaini, Senior Vice President of Energy Projects at the Prysmian Group. “We are pleased to offer this advanced technology to customers who wish to develop, expand, and optimize their electrical networks, while also striving to reduce their environmental impact with solutions that offer unbeatable performance and cost-effectiveness,” he adds.
P-Laser is the name given to the most advanced and innovative technology that allows for more efficient cable production with a lower environmental impact than traditional XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene). Manufacturing takes place in a single continuous process that does not require chemical reactions to achieve the necessary properties for ensuring the long-term electrical integrity of HVDC insulation systems. This results in shorter production times and reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. P-Laser is particularly well-suited for HVDC applications and is also the first HVDC cable that can be fully recycled at the end of its life cycle.
P-Laser technology is fully compatible with existing cable and accessory technologies, providing superior electrical performance and greater material integrity for HVDC applications compared to traditional XLPE-insulated cables. From an efficiency standpoint, P-Laser technology offers superior thermal performance, increasing the power transmission capacity of the cable system for a given conductor size, thus enabling average total cost reductions of approximately 10% per megawatt transmitted.
The use of P-Laser in underground and submarine HVDC systems represents a global milestone in the cable industry, which has materialized following the Group's recent announcement of the successful results obtained in the testing of the XLPE extruded cable solution at the same voltage level (525 kV DC) in December 2015. It is further proof of Prysmian's firm commitment and clear leadership in cable technology innovation.
