The Italian company Prysmian, known for manufacturing and providing cable installation services, has successfully completed the installation of undersea cables at a depth of 2,150 meters, setting a new record in the field.
Prysmian’s cable-laying ship. (Photo: Prysmian).
The testing process for the 500 kV non-metallic sheathed high-voltage direct current (HVDC MI) cable was successfully carried out by Prysmian. According to the company, this is the first time an HVDC cable has been laid at such a great depth, establishing a new standard in the market, as reported by Interesting Engineering on July 9.
The cable installation is related to a new electrical corridor in the central Mediterranean, expected to be 970 kilometers long and have a capacity of 1,000 MW. The Tyrrhenian Link project will connect Sicily to Sardinia and the Italian mainland through dual undersea cables. The cables are made from composite materials based on High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE), representing a new generation of power transmission cable technology. HMPE fibers exhibit low elongation ratios and high strength-to-weight ratios, along with resistance to fatigue and abrasion.
The undersea cables in this project are located at depths exceeding 2,000 meters, marking the deepest point ever reached by electrical cables. Installing cables at such depths is feasible thanks to an advanced sheath solution that is 50% lighter than traditional steel. Prysmian’s modern cable-laying ship, Leonardo da Vinci, facilitated smooth operations. The company noted that several laboratory tests contributed to the success of the implementation. Previously, ultra-light sheath technology was used in 2019 for the Evia – Andros – Tinos interconnection at a depth of 550 meters.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, are continuously developing in Sicily, Sardinia, and Campania. The Tyrrhenian Link interconnection project, valued at $1.84 billion, is designed to enhance electricity exchange, strengthen renewable energy development, and improve grid reliability. The project consists of two main sections. The eastern section spans 490 kilometers, connecting Fiumetorto in Termini Imerese, Sicily, to Torre Tuscia Magazzeno near Battipaglia, Campania. Meanwhile, the western section is approximately 480 kilometers long, connecting Fiumetorto to Terra Mala in Sardinia. Additionally, Prysmian will expand the energy hub in the Mediterranean by designing, supplying, and installing over 1,500 kilometers of undersea cables to promote electricity exchange between Sardinia, Sicily, and Campania.
