Hanwha Solutions has successfully validated insulation materials for 500-kilovolt (kV) high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission cables, expanding its product portfolio from the existing 400kV class to 500kV.

Hanwha Solutions said on Oct. 16 that it had completed technical validation of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation and semiconductive materials for 500kV HVAC cables with Chinese cable manufacturers Qingdao Hanhe (HANHE) and TBEA.

The validation was conducted by TICW, a testing and certification organization affiliated with the Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI). The tests confirmed insulation performance and long-term reliability under high-voltage transmission conditions. Hanwha Solutions is also pursuing certification from KEMA, an internationally accredited certification body.

XLPE is an insulating material that prevents electrical current from escaping power cables. Semiconductive materials help maintain insulation performance by ensuring a uniform electric field between the conductor and insulation layer. Insulation performance and reliability are critical for high-voltage cables because they must withstand high voltages.

Hanwha Solutions expects global sales volume of XLPE for high-voltage cables to roughly double this year from last year. In China, sales volume of high-voltage cable materials, including 325kV products, is projected to triple year on year.

"Having secured the technical reliability of our 500kV cable materials, we will expand supply opportunities in the global high-voltage cable market," said Carlo Scarlata, head of Hanwha Solutions' Wire & Cable division.