French cable system designer and manufacturer Nexans recently announced that they have successfully laid a 500 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable at a depth of 2150 meters underwater in the Tyrrhenian Link project in Italy, setting a new world record in the submarine cable industry. This remarkable feat underscores the advanced capabilities of modern Cable Machinery and the engineering precision behind wire and cable machinery .
This laying has set a record for the deepest deployment of HVDC submarine power cables, jointly completed by Italian grid operator Terna. The complex deployment process relied on specialized Wire and cable equipment , such as the wire take up machine and cable manufacturing machine , to ensure stability and efficiency during the installation.
The company stated that this milestone achievement was achieved through the major power interconnection project connecting Sicily and Sardinia - the western section of the Tyrrhenian Sea Cable Connection Project, which has accumulated years of engineering research and operation capabilities. The production of these high-voltage cables involved advanced pvc extrusion line and electric cable making machine technologies to meet stringent deep-sea operational standards. At the core of this manufacturing process, the Cable Extrusion Line played a vital role in applying precise insulation and protective sheathing to the cable.
After the completion of the project, Tyrrhenian Link will include two 500kV high-voltage direct current submarine cables, with a total length of approximately 970 kilometers and a transmission capacity of 1000 megawatts. The connecting section between Sicily and Sardinia alone spans about 480 kilometers, with the deepest point reaching 2150 meters below sea level.
Terna is investing approximately $4.3 billion in the project, which also includes the eastern section connecting Sicily and the Campania region. The first cable will be laid in May 2025. Nexans is implementing the western section cable laying project in two phases, with the first phase to be completed in September 2025 and the second phase to be launched in December 2025.
