High-Voltage Cable Shortage Imperils Clean Energy Goals

A looming shortage of high-voltage electricity cables is threatening to impede the global transition to clean energy, potentially delaying the construction of new wind farms, solar power plants, and vital cross-border power connections. The bottleneck stems from the intricate and capital-intensive manufacturing processes required to produce these massive cables, which transport electricity across vast distances, both on land and beneath the sea.

The High-Voltage Cable Bottleneck

Despite the escalating demand for high-voltage cables, manufacturers are proceeding cautiously with capacity expansion.This hesitancy raises concerns about whether the pace of electrification can keep pace with ambitious climate targets,geopolitical uncertainties,and the practical realities of large-scale industrial investments.

Did You Know? High-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology, crucial for long-distance power transmission, was initially pioneered in the