Energy 2.0Net Article on political framework conditions required to enable partial undergrounding

In its February edition, German  Energy2.0Net magazine published a Europacable Article on partial undergrounding. The article stipulates that from a technical perspective, partial undergrounding of extra high voltage AC power transmission projects is entirely feasible. As shown by a recent study completed for the German Ministry of Environment, the faster realization of a grid project due to partial undergrounding may even compensate for higher investment costs. What is now required is a clear regulatory framework when and where to underground – and when not.

Click here to read the article in full.

Europacable participates in 13th Roundtable of the European Fire Academy, Brussels

Europacable participated in the 13^th Roundtable of the European Fire Academy (EFA) hosted in Brussels by the Belgian Ministry of Interior on 9/10 February 2012. EFA joined senior fire Chiefs, representatives of burns victims organisations as well as technology partners to discuss improved ways of (domestic) fire prevention and communication to the most vulnerable in fires, notably children.

Europacable has been a technology partner of EFA since 2010 and continues its support via high quality, fire resistant cables.

For more information click here to visit the EFA website.

Europacable invited to speak at Borealis Energy Symposium Dubai

Following previous presentations in the series of the Borealis Infrastructure Symposia, Europacable was invited to present the concept of partial undergrounding and HVDC cables in Dubai.

Similarly to Europe, the Middle East is looking at significant upgrading of its electricity infrastructure. Addressing a mixed audience of cable manufacturers and regional transmission system operators at the Borealis event, Europacable gave an update on latest infrastructure developments in Europe and provided an update on technology developments, notably on HVDC XLPE cables.

Europacable becomes Supporting Member of EUFORES

With immediate effect, Europacable has become a supporting member of EUFORES, the leading parliamentary network of the European Parliament.

EUFORES Secretary General, Dr. Jan Geiss comments: “EUFORES warmly welcomes Europacable as supporting member. Infrastructure development and smart solutions for grid expansion will be key to make a sustainable energy future happen. Therefore, a constant exchange between decision makers and infrastructure experts like Europacable is crucial.”

Europacable Director Public Affairs, Dr. Volker Wendt, supports this membership: “EUFORES is a unique platform joining Members of the European Parliament and external actors seeking to enable the deployment of renewable energy sources. Europacable is delighted to have been accepted as a Supporting Member to EUFORES. We’re committed to offering the technical expertise of our members to EUFORES to enable the upgrading of Europe’s electricity networks, needed to integrate renewable energy sources.”

Founded in 1995, EUFORES is an independent non-profit organisation aiming at promoting renewable energy sources and energy efficiency in the European Union. EUFORES is a European parliamentary network with Members from all major political groups in the European Parliament as well as in the national and regional Parliaments of the EU Member States.  EUFORES serves as a communication platform for exchanging information and expertise, bringing relevant stakeholders together to promote renewable energy sources in the European Union and to transform best practice into coherent renewable energy legislation for Europe.

Click here to link to visit the EUFORES Website.

Borealis joins Europacable as Associate Member

Effective 1 January, Borealis joined Europacable as an Associate Member

Europacable Secretary General, Thomas Neesen, welcomed Borealis to Europacable: “Borealis is a leading provider of high quality plastics solutions for the wire and cable industry, notably for high and extra-high voltage cable applications. We have worked with their team closely for the past 5 years and we are delighted to establish an even closer co-operation moving into the future.”

“To show full commitment to the wire and cable industry and in response to the increasing publicity and political debate surrounding infrastructure projects in Europe, Borealis aims to further strengthen its relationship as an associated member of Europacable. Borealis looks forward to being an active and recognised driver to provide competency and innovative expertise for the imminent industry challenges of upgrading and expanding Europe’s electricity grid in a reliable, sustainable, and publicly acceptable way.”, Marc Hubert, Vice President Wire and Cable Borealis AG

Borealis will bring its significant expertise to Europacable as a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions. With sales of EUR 6.3 billion in 2010, customers in over 120 countries, and around 5,100 employees worldwide, Borealis is owned 64% by the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) of Abu Dhabi and 36% by OMV, the leading energy group in the European growth belt. Borealis is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has production locations, innovation centres and customer service centres across Europe and the Americas.

Click here to visit the Borealis website.

EWEA "Wind in our Sails" Report: European cable manufacturers commit to support large scale renewable deployments

Europacable welcomes EWEA’s latest report “Wind in our Sails” launched today at the Offshore 2011 Conference in Amsterdam. The Report calls for ambitious renewable energy targets beyond 2020. Europacable agrees that meeting these targets will require significant investments in Europe’s electricity networks. High and extra high voltage power cables are critical in building these future grids – both onshore and offshore.

The European wire and cable industry has responded to the recent growing demand in high voltage underground cables: Since 2008, the industry has increased its production capacity of high and extra high voltage cables in Europe alone by 40%.

 “To secure the global technology leadership, the industry is willing to continue investing in production facilities in Europe including for submarine applications – but Europacable calls on policy makers to provide a stable and reliable framework to accompany the industry´s investments” commented Thomas Neesen, Secretary General of Europacable.

Europacable launches new Brochure "Myths & Realities of Partial Undergrounding of 380 kV Electricity Powerlines"

In the discussions around grid extensions across Europe there are many myths about what extra high voltage XLPE AC cables can and cannot do.

With this brochure Europacable would like to address those myths, present the facts and offer our view on the most important issues. The technical information we provide here is based on the Joint Paper Europacable prepared with ENTSO-E under the guidance of the European Commission DG Energy.

Click here to view the brochure "Myths and Realities of Partial Undergrounding of 380 kV Electricity Powerlines".

Europacable launches background paper "Introduction to HVDC Underground Cables"

In addition to upgrading and expanding the existing AC grid networks in Europe, there is an increasing need to build “electricity highways”, creating a powerful and reliable backbone structure for Europe’s electricity supplies.

High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology is appropriate when considering a long distance overlay net. With this paper, Europacable seeks to provide an authoritative source of information about DC underground cable technology.

Click here to download the paper.

Europacable welcomes Commission’s proposal for a Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure

Europacable welcomes the European Commission’s legislative proposal for a Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure published on October 19. The proposal outlines solutions to the core challenges of upgrading and expanding Europe’s electricity grids in the coming years: Streamlining permitting procedures, facilitating financing mechanisms and responding to local concerns against transmission projects.

Europacable fully supports the approach taken by the European Commission and will be working with the European Parliament and Council, to see the core of this proposal through to its adoption.

The wire and cable industry, represented by Europacable, offers underground cables as a key component to realize the ambitious objectives outlined in the proposed regulation: The Europacable ‘Concept of Partial Undergrounding’ complementing overhead lines in sensitive areas will help to build the required grids faster. Partial undergrounding is reliable, economically viable and can contribute to obtaining public acceptance of transmission projects.

Click here to read the European Commission’s full proposal.

Europacable presentation at Eurelectric Transmission and Distribution Technology Day

Europacable was invited to present its Concept of Partial Undergrounding at the Eurelectric Transmission and Distribution Technology Day in Brussels, 12 October 2011.  In addition to building future HVDC electricity highway systems, Europe needs to upgrade its meshed 380 kV AC networks. Partial undergrounding can contribute to upgrade these existing links faster.

The purpose of the event was to gather views on which technology options for transmission are currently available and will come to the market in the near future. Eurelectric invited its membership from various parts of the energy value chain to attend the meeting.

For further information click here

Europacable speaks at Borealis "Energy Infrastructure Symposium 2011" in New York City

Borealis hosted leading experts to debate changing energy sources and impact on tomorrow’s power grid in New York City on 4 – 5 October 2011.

Europacable was invited as a speaker to present the contribution partial undergrounding can make to overcome bottlenecks in grid deployment.

Marc Hubert, Vice President for Borealis Wire & Cable, says, “To meet the nation's ambitious energy policy goals, our industry must not only explore new methods of generating electric energy, but also find innovative ways to transform the existing grid such that it can deliver this energy to customers in a reliable, secure and economical way.”  

For further information click here.

Europacable Launches New Website

The new website was launched today. All members of Europacable will have to register before receiving access to the password protected section. Please click "login" followed by "create an account" on the homepage, then follow the instructions.

Freedom of Electricity Campaign

Europacable is a partner of the  "Freedom of Electricity" Campaign. 12 European Assocations have already followed the invitation of EWEA, Eurelectric and Europacable to join this Campaign.

UK Approved Cables Initiative

The Approved Cables Initiative (ACI) launched its proactive and coordinated plan to investigate and address the issue of unsafe, non-approved and counterfeit cables in the UK market