JPS to Expand DC XLPE Cable Business in Overseas

J-Power Systems (JPS), Japanese high voltage power cable maker jointly invested by Sumitomo Electric Industries and Hitachi Cable, aims to receive offshore orders for submarine direct current (DC) XLPE cables. JPS has currently received an order for DC XLPE cable from Electric Power Development (J-Power), Japanese electric utility supplier. The cable will be laid down in a 45-kilometer undersea area between Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan. JPS recognizes this order receipt as the first step to expand DC XLPE cable business worldwide.

JPS will start DC XLPE cable production for J-Power at Hitaka plant, Ibaraki, Japan in autumn 2009. JPS plans capital expenditure at approximately 1 billion yen for conversion of some productive facilities. This is the first case to use XLPE cable for DC power transmission in Japan. The cable will be operated at 250 kilovolt with polarity reversal. The construction will complete in 2011.

DC XLPE cable needs special cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) as insulating material. JPS developed its original XLPE for DC XLPE cable to represent high insulating performance. The firm will convert a test line for XLPE compound production in Hitaka plant to supply DC XLPE cable to J-Power. JPS also plans partial conversion of an insulating line in the plant.

There exist several offshore projects to construct power transmission lines using DC XLPE cables. JPS aims to receive these orders. The competitors are limited in 1 or 2 large electric cable makers of Europe. JPS will appeal high performance of its original insulating material.