A 10 kV underground cable, 1 km long, has been successfully laid in a submerged trench beneath the sea, eliminating the risk of damage from moored ships, unlike underwater cables.
The underground cable is buried in a submerged trench beneath the sea. (Video: CGTN).
On January 4th, a 10 kV underground cable was successfully installed in a submerged trench beneath the sea in the waters north of Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, marking the completion of the first project of its kind in China. This cable facilitates the transmission of electricity between two islands in the Zhoushan archipelago, which consists of 2,085 islands of varying sizes.
Previously, underwater cables were always considered an essential power supply for the islands. However, the increasing number of vessels in the area due to the rapid development of the shipping and fishing industries has led to frequent damage to these underwater cables when ships are moored. Factors such as climate and tides also complicate the detection of damages and recovery efforts, resulting in economic losses.
The underground cable is buried deeper than the mooring depth, thereby reducing the risk of damage.
The local branch of the State Grid Corporation of China reported that the new 1 km cable replaces the more vulnerable underwater cables that are prone to damage from moored ships. The underground cable is buried deeper than the mooring depth, thus minimizing the risk of damage, according to Li Zhen, the head of the design company for the project.
Li stated that the underground cable also has lower costs, making it suitable for transmitting electricity over short distances between islands. This new method will be widely applied to connect islands that are within short to medium distances, not exceeding 2 km. The long-term goal is to establish connections between islands over medium and long distances.
