EuroWire May 2022

Corporate News

Highvolt selected to supply testing systems for submarine cables XLCC, a UK-based manufacturer of HVDC cables, has selected Highvolt as the main supplier of test systems for prequalification, type and routine testing of submarine cables. A new entrant to the industry, XLCC will manufacture HVDC submarine cables with aluminium conductors and XLPE insulation at its plant in Hunterston, Scotland. The cables will be used for interconnection projects to enable the transmission of electricity between countries’ transmission grids and other high capacity links. The company’s first order includes four cables, each 3,800km long, as part of a 3.6 GW HVDC submarine cable system for the Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project. For this project, Highvolt has been contracted to provide consulting services as well as high voltage testing systems for prequalification, type and routine testing. The consulting service includes the planning of the individual test fields as well as the necessary test equipment required for certification and factory acceptance testing. The overall planning, equipment and configuration will enable future testing to be carried out for cables with higher voltage levels, ensuring that operations are future-proof. “We are delighted to be making a further contribution to the success of the energy transition with this project,” said Anne Cholawa, project manager at Highvolt. “In order to master the challenges in the largest project to date since the company was founded, a project team was specially created and new employees were brought in.” Highvolt regional sales manager Mario Jochim added, “The requirements for testing production lengths (20km) and delivery lengths (>100km) are particularly exciting. But it’s not just the testing technology where our years of experience come into play. For the entire test set-up, including the cable drums and the trackways, new solutions have to be sought with regard to intelligent rewinding, safety aspects and the heating of the cable during the tests.” The test systems will include variable frequency for AC testing of the delivery length. The first systems will be ready for shipment in June and November 2022 and will be commissioned in conjunction with the new factory construction. Highvolt Prüftechnik Dresden GmbH www.highvolt.com XLCC www.xlcc.co.uk

XXL reactor for testing super-long cables

AC resonant test system

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May 2022