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LS Cable & System has begun commercializing an ultra-high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable with the highest transmission capacity in South Korea, moving to capture the next-generation national power grid market. Demand for long-distance, high-capacity transmission is rising sharply amid the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and renewable energy.
LS Cable & System announced on the 9th that it became the first in South Korea to pass prequalification testing for a 525-kilovolt (kV), 80°C-class HVDC submarine cable. The prequalification (PQ) test is an international certification procedure that verifies long-term operating performance and reliability. Once a project is won, the product can be supplied after only a type test.
With this certification, LS Cable & System has secured a foundation to supply 525kV, 80°C-class submarine cables applicable to the government-driven West Coast Energy Highway project.
The new product raises the conductor's allowable temperature from the previous 70°C to 80°C, boosting transmission capacity by up to 25%. As a next-generation submarine cable suited for long-distance, high-capacity power transmission, it is regarded as a highly advanced product that combines ultra-high-voltage insulation technology with long-term reliability.
The HVDC market continues to grow with the expansion of renewable energy such as AI data centers and offshore wind. Because it enables long-distance transmission while minimizing power losses, it is considered a core technology for building national backbone power grids.
LS Cable & System has carried out the Jeju No. 2 and 3 interconnection projects domestically, and abroad has supplied HVDC submarine cables to projects including that of Dutch transmission grid operator TenneT, building a track record of commercialization.
The company plans to strengthen its turnkey competitiveness spanning manufacturing to installation through collaboration between LS Cable & System, which handles submarine cable production, and LS Marine Solution, which handles offshore construction.
An LS Cable & System official said, "Passing the prequalification test is an important milestone for entering the next-generation national power grid market," adding, "Based on our manufacturing and construction capabilities together with LS Marine Solution, we plan to expand our push into domestic and overseas HVDC markets, including the West Coast Energy Highway."
Meanwhile, LS Group's cable affiliates are also expanding their businesses in line with the growing ultra-high-voltage power infrastructure market. LS Eco Energy has completed PQ testing of 400kV-class ultra-high-voltage cables targeting the North American market, and Gaon Cable has developed ultra-high-voltage cables meeting Korea Electric Power Corporation standards, with supply set to begin next year.
