The under the surface technology that’s connecting the power sector to a cleaner energy future
In the push towards a clean energy future, no single technology alone is sufficient to make the transformation happen. For example, even if you could theoretically generate enough power from solar panels to meet U.S. energy needs, the sector would still need batteries, grid enhancements, smart meters, and more to empower the solar energy.
When it comes to the ancillary technologies critical for the next decade and beyond for the energy transition, one that commonly gets overlooked by those outside the energy sector is submarine cables. This essential companion technology to renewable generation will continue to see focus on their improvement, cost effectiveness, efficiency improvement, and deployment as they represent a key lynchpin towards the success of clean energy technologies.
Defining submarine cables
The advent of submarine cables is nothing new, with communications taking place via submarine cable for over a century and a half. In fact, the first transatlantic cable connecting the United States and Europe saw President James Buchanan exchange telegraphs in 1858 with Queen Victoria. But it’s the recent growth of offshore wind energy, with the first major offshore wind farm deployed in Europe in 1991, that has been the turning point of using submarine cables for power transport.
Submarine cables may also be called subsea cables or undersea electric cables. The term refers to physical wiring infrastructure meant to transport electricity over any distance that requires cables laid at the bottom of a waterway (e.g., the ocean floor) such that the source of the power and its ultimate consumption can be connected despite the body of water separating them.
While submarine cables for communications may look different, submarine power cables have some specific characteristics to them:
Regulations: all submarine power cables installed must be in compliance with the international standard IEC 60288.
Current Type: these cables can be designed to carry alternative current (AC), optimal in cost for shorter distances, or direct current (DC) when longer distances require improvement in electrical efficiency.
Voltage: AC cables will range from about 7 kilovolts (kV) to 525 kV, while DC cables may carry up to 725 kV.
Size: submarine power cables will typically range from 70 millimeters (mm) to 210 mm in diameter.
Distance: AC submarine cables are optimized for distances of about 80 kilometers (km) or less, while longer cables (which can reach longer than 700 km) will use DC technology.
Cost: While communication submarine cables may cost $30,000 to $50,000 per km, submarine power cables can cost over $2.5 million per km.
Market analysts highlight the most notable manufacturers of submarine power cables to include ZTT, The Okonite Company, TE Connectivity, SubCom, Saudi Ericsson, Prysmian Group, NKT, Nexans, and more. As this market continues to grow, legacy companies as well as new players are expected to continue entering the market to try and take advantage of that new and emerging demand.