NKT will deliver 545 km of onshore power cables to transmission system operator Elia Transmission Belgium (ETB) for a major grid upgrade.

A press release said that the order for the cable will strengthen Belgium’s transmission grid, and was received under an existing framework agreement between NKT and ETB., which manages the high-voltage transmission grid that has some 9,000 km of overhead lines and underground cables. The latest order is related to a prior order of 72 km of 380 kV AC onshore power cables recently awarded under the same agreement.

“This is one of the largest orders in the segment 70 kV and 150 kV AC onshore NKT has ever received and shows the importance of the lower high-voltage levels in the transmission grid,” said Lukas Sidler, EVP, HV Solutions Cologne. The cables will be produced at NKT’s Cologne, Germany, and Velke Meziříčí, Czech Republic, factories, with delivery and installation planned from 2025-2027.

In Belgium, electricity consumption is expected to rise by 50% by 2032 while renewable energy sources are adding more power to the system. In 2023, Belgium generated a record-breaking 21.5 TWh (a 23% increase compared with 2022) from wind and solar generation, making up 28% of the country’s electricity mix.

In other news, NKT reported that it is expanding its operations in Alingsås, Sweden, to boost the production capacity of high-voltage accessories. The company is currently constructing a new hall in Alingsås for testing power cable accessories up to 525 kV that is needed to meet what the company described as the growing demand driven by the transition to renewable energy. Besides boosting the production capacity of high-voltage accessories, with the new hall NKT is seeking to enhance its research and development efforts.

“With our new high-voltage test facility, we’re meeting NKT’s strong growth in the global market. This investment in Alingsås enables us to support the renewable transition by supplying complete power cable systems for on- and offshore wind parks and interconnectors,” said John Sjöström, Head of Operations at NKT in Alingsås.

Poland’s Tele-Fonika Kable S.A. (TFKable) has won an order for onshore cables and accessories by the developers of Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, two offshore wind farm projects in the Baltic Sea.

A press release said that the contract from Equinor and Polenergia will require 85 km of onshore HV export cables (220 kV) which will connect the offshore substation to the onshore substation. The order also calls for 38 km of onshore EHV cables (400 kV) that will connect the onshore substation to the PSE power station. The project also includes the supply and installation of accessories. The wind farms have a combined capacity of 1440 MW

The wind farms will be located in Poland’s economic zone in the Baltic Sea, about 22 km to 37 km from the coastline. The first energy from both projects is expected to flow into the grid in 2027, with full commercial operation planned from 2028.

The cable will be made at TFKable’s facility in Bydgoszcz, located approximately 250 km from the construction site. The choice of a local supplier underscores the significance of Polish involvement in this project and supports the development of modern renewable energy infrastructure.

Piotr Mirek, Member of the Management Board at TELE-FONIKA Kable and Supply Chain and Investment Officer at JDR Cable Systems, added, “Tele-Fonika has extensive experience in providing advanced cable solutions for the energy sector, as evidenced by our participation in projects such as Baltic Power and Baltica 2. Our involvement in the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects continues our commitment to the development of renewable energy sources in the Baltic Sea. By collaborating with local suppliers, these projects will not only contribute to the economic growth of the region but also enhance the country’s energy security.”

The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 projects include the installation of 100 wind turbines, two offshore substations, submarine export cables, and a full energy and telecommunications infrastructure. The HV and EHV onshore cables will be made at the Bydgoszcz facility, part of the TFKable Group. Deliveries are expected to start in January 2025, with project completion expected by November 2026.

Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze (SEBN) said that it will open a new plant in Spain and close its Mezdra plant in Bulgaria, while cutting back at a second plant in the country it has in Karnobat.

Per multiple media reports, earlier this year SEBN announced plans to build its first production site in Cuenca, Spain to make high-voltage wiring harnesses for electric cars for the Volkswagen Group. By the end of 2025, when operations are at capacity, it will have some 350 employees.

A subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries and Sumitomo Wiring Systems, SEBN notes at its website that it is one of the world’s largest wiring harness system manufacturers, with a development and production network of 41 sites in 13 countries. While this will be SEBN’s first plant in Spain, and 23rd overall, the company has had a customer service center in Pamplona since 2001 and a development center in Martorell since 2012.

In other news, SEBN noted that it decided to close the Mezdra plant because of stiff competition and higher labor production costs in Bulgaria. The site, opened in 2008, employs around 950 people.
SEBN plans to maintain its second Bulgarian plant, in Karnobat, at reduced capacity. That plant, opened in 2006, currently has about 1,000 employees, and will see a reduction of about 100 positions. The company will move some production to its facilities in Moldova and Romania.

Founded as Volkswagen Bordnetze GmbH in 1986 in Berlin, Germany, the company’s initial production was wiring harnesses for the VW Polo and VW Golf vehicles. It became part of Sumitomo Electric Industries in 2006.

Taihan Cable & Solution has been selected as the cable supplier for a 320kV Voltage Source Converter (VSC)--VDC and 500kV HVAC power grid project in the U.S.

A press release said that the contract from LS Power Grid California, LLC, includes multiple cable orders worth approximately $68 million, to improve the reliability of the power grid in Northern California, including regions such as Silicon Valley and San Jose. It noted that the area has seen a surge in electricity demand due to the recent expansion of AI- related businesses and other advanced IT companies.

The contract marks Taihan’s official entry into the U.S. HVDC market. The company’s VSC technology allows for easier bidirectional power transmission and simpler converter station installation compared to Line Commutated Converter (LCC) HVDC technology. It can also be applied to renewable energy generation, such as wind and solar power. VSC-HVDC is increasingly used, and only a handful of companies worldwide have successfully commercialized this technology.

Taihan previously developed South Korea’s first 525kV VSC-HVDC cable system, which has a 3,000-sq-mm cross-sectional area and a maximum operating temperature of 90°C. “With this latest contract, Taihan is poised to actively pursue further HVDC projects both domestically and internationally.”

Taihan was the first company in South Korea to develop and commercialize this technology, and it has successfully secured and executed all 500kV HVAC projects conducted in North America. “With this latest win, Taihan has achieved the remarkable accomplishment of carrying out all 500kV projects conducted in the U.S.”

Anticipating the increased demand for replacing aging power grids in the U.S., Taihan has focused its efforts on the U.S. market since 2017. “This strategic focus has yielded continuous success, with the company recording approximately $455 million in new orders this year alone, achieving record-breaking results.”

Kris-Tech Wire, which completed the expansion of its operations at Rome, New York, earlier this year, now looks forward to continuing its mission that started 40 years ago,

A press release said that the company—founded in 1984 by twin brothers Gerry and Glenn Brodock—grew over time to be a leading manufacturer of U.S.-made industrial wire and cable products. Today, the third-generation family business serves a wide range of building, commercial, and utility industries. The expansion project saw its Rome location have double the production, warehouse and office space. It was the most ambitious project since opening its stocking facility in Houston, Texas, in early 2022. It’s also part of a multi-year campaign to expand operations and product lines.

“We’re excited to continue investing in our people, customers, and community,” Kris-Tech CEO and President Graham Brodock said. “This expansion is a statement of our belief in our business and team, and we look forward to yet another one soon.”

The additional space allows the housing of several added production lines, including Kris-Tech’s recently expanded tray cable division, stocking and storage areas, training rooms, and more. The expansion project will also bring a nearby production facility back to Rome.

Throughout its history, the company has maintained close ties to the region. Kris-Tech was the recipient of two regional awards in the spring of 2024. First, the company received the CNY Business Journal’s Mohawk Valley GEAR (Growth, Energy, and Revitalize) award for their contributions to the region’s job market, real estate, social scene, and community improvement. The second award was the Chamber Alliance of the Mohawk Valley’s inaugural William K. Guglielmo Legacy Award for 2024. This award honors companies improving the Mohawk Valley business community, something the award’s namesake, Bill Guglielmo, did for 50 years with the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce.