Application Watch: Cable manufacturers raise output amid strong renewable energy trend

Suppliers prepare for climbing local and overseas demand for cables used in solar and wind power systems.

The trend for sustainable energy continues to fuel the fast development of solar and wind power systems globally. Additional installed capacity reached 52.57GW in 2017, bringing the total to 539.58GW worldwide, according to Qianzhan Research Institute. Of this, key market China accounted for 34.9 and 33.4 percent of solar and wind power that could be produced.

The region is expected to sustain growth of its renewable energy industries, which will ensure a total annual sales increase of more 15 percent for the solar and wind power systems combined.

This, in turn, will provide greater opportunities for the supply chain, including those upstream such as cable manufacturers, most of which are already planning to boost production to meet demand locally and abroad.

cable for Wire & Cable Co. Ltd will double its output in coming months. The applications represent 5 percent of cable shipments. Shenzhen Kinmaking Cable & Wire Industrial Co. Ltd, which ventured into the category in 2017, has allocated 10 percent of yield.

To take advantage of prospects in these broadening markets, China suppliers make sure their cables are up to industry quality and safety standards. The last requires resistance to ozone degradation, UV radiation, acid and alkaline, capability to withstand shock and high and low temperatures, and flame-retardant and halogen-free features.

To achieve all this, companies use conductors made of tinned copper to ensure improved performance in wet areas, while hard and abrasion-resistant PE with halogen-free fillers for better fire resistance is the choice for insulation. For the outer jacket, the options are PE and TPE. The latter material can withstand cold temperatures and resists sunlight, UV and ozone aging. Makers subject all products to torsion, fog and salt spray testing, in addition to other processes to comply with application requirements.

Mainstream cables operate in as low as -40 C to as high as 120 C, while there are some that support up to 150 C. As for the life span, more than 20 years at an average operating temperature of 120 C is the norm in the local selection.

Most companies adopt locally available materials, although they are open to requests for imported variants. Input costs are projected to stabilize in coming months and keep product prices unchanged. Some suppliers, however, may lower their quotes to win more orders at home and abroad.

To boost overall competitiveness, makers will continue to enhance product reliability andstability, and strengthen capability to match customization requirements.

The majority of China manufacturers ensure products are in accordance with the IEC 61215, UL 1703, and VDE 0295 and 0270 standards. They also comply with national requirements such as the technology standards for cables used in wind power systems, which were issued by the National Center for Quality Supervision & Test of Electric Wire & Cable in 2009.

Some suppliers set their own benchmarks based on international standards. Kexun does so for its cables with a rated voltage of 0.6/1kV or below for solar power systems, and similarly rated but flexible versions for wind power systems as per IEC 61215, UL 1703, and VDE 0295 and 0270.

Production pool

China’s manufacturing industry for cables used in solar and wind power systems consists of fewer than 100 companies and more than half are foreign businesses. The major local players include Jiangsu Baosheng, Huaxing and Kexun.

All suppliers offer other types of cables. Those for solar and wind power systems account for 10 to 30 percent of their shipments.

The production hubs are still in the coastal areas, specifically in the cities of Shenzhen and Zhongshan in Guangdong province, Hangzhou and Ningbo in Zhejiang, and Suzhou and Yangzhou in Jiangsu.

As the new energy industry booms, more cable makers are expected to present models for the applications, while new entrants from China and abroad will likely set up operations in the same areas.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our mainland China-based market analyst for representing current trends in cables for solar power systems from mainland China and Taiwan makers.

Halogen-free cable with 0.6/1kVAC, 1.8kVDC rated voltage

Chung Kwang Electric Wire & Cable Co. Ltd's cable for solar power systems, PV1-F model, has halogen-free double insulation, and is resistant to wear, abrasion, oil, grease and ozone. This TÜV-tested unit operates in -40 to 90 C and has a 120 C maximum conductor temperature. The rated voltage is 0.6/1kV at AC and 1.8kV at DC.

The negotiable minimum order has a delivery lead time of 7 days.

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600V-rated cable has tinned annealed copper conductor

Model WCH-JKC3087 cable for solar power systems from Dongguan Wenchang Electronic Co. Ltd uses stranded or solid tinned annealed copper conductor, TPE or XLPE insulation and TPE jacket. The unit has 600V rated voltage and 105 C rated temperature. It passes UL VW-1 and cUL FT1 tests. The minimum order is 610m for delivery within 7 days.

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Cable uses fine stranded tinned copper conductor

From Ningbo Followray Special Cable Co. Ltd, model BY1-E1200 cable for solar power systems utilizes IEC C60228 Class 5-compliant fine stranded tinned copper conductor. It has halogen-free XLPE insulation and outer jacket. The latter is flame-retardant, and resistant to water and UV light.

The 1,000VAC, 1,500VDC unit operates in -40 to 120 C. The minimum order is 1,000m. Delivery takes 5 days.

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1,500VDC-rated cable supports -40 to 125 C

This cable for solar power systems from Shenzhen Kinmaking Cable & Wire Industrial Co. Ltd, KM-1 model, has one or two cores. It adopts a fine stranded tinned copper conductor, with 1.5 to 6sqmm cross section, and XL-LSZH insulation and jacket. The last is in red or black. The rated voltage is 1,500VDC and the operating temperature -40 to 125 C.

The order quantity is negotiable. Delivery lead time is 14 days.

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