Nexans unveils new cable to ensure faster grid connections for renewables

Nexans, in collaboration with the utility managing the majority of France’s public electricity distribution network, has developed and tested a new generation of medium voltage (MV) cables for the connection of power sources to the grid.

Known as EDRMAX by Nexans, the new cable is eco-designed for a reduced environmental impact. It allows easier installation compared to the previous EDR version, particularly in challenging conditions like hard or rocky ground. The EDRMAX by Nexans solution has been designed specifically to enable the grid connection of renewable energy resources such as solar panels or wind turbines. This development is an illustration of Nexans’ contribution to address the growing demand for energy across the world. EDRMAX by Nexans is compliant with the NFC 33-226 standard. It is available in single or three-core versions, with either aluminium or copper conductor. EDRMAX allows a maximum permissible current in permanent service above 400 A and has a Class 2 (C2) rating for flame non-propagation performance.

A key advantage of the EDRMAX by Nexans design is the high mechanical strength provided by its oversheathing that enables the cable to be buried directly into the ground with no need for an additional sand layer. Furthermore, the flexibility of the cable makes it easy to handle and this combined with its high stripability with standard tools provides a faster connected cable solution.

Nexans technical teams have co-designed this new cable to meet one of the environmental impact reduction targets. It is one of the first cables to comply with Nexans’ new Eco-design approach that takes account of the entire product life cycle spanning manufacture, use and end-of-life. An additional benefit of EDRMAX by Nexans is that the joule losses have been reduced significantly compared with the existing EDR and this contributes to a 12% lower impact on global warming across the whole cable life cycle from sourcing of raw materials to recycling.

Nexans is manufacturing the EDRMAX by Nexans cable at its facility in Bourg en Bresse, France.

Yvan Duperray, VP for European Utilities Sales at Nexans said, “The development of EDRMAX by Nexans illustrates how we aim to go above and beyond when it comes to meeting the technical challenges set by our customers. With our innovations on this product, we were able to find a solution that not only makes the grid connection of renewables faster, easier and more cost-effective, it also offers a more environmentally friendly solution.”