Transforming Global Power Delivery Efficiency

Ram Ramachandran
Global End Use Marketing
Manager, Dow Wire & Cable

Global power consumption is predicted to grow significantly over the next 20 years, according to USA Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections. Increasingly, emerging markets are also poised to address the increasing demand for power and improve their delivery reliability at optimized costs.

As global utilities make plans for improved infrastructure, increased deregulation and significantly improved system efficiency, the use of underground distribution cables is growing in popularity. Historically, the costs to make and install underground cables were significantly higher than that of overhead cables. However, these costs have come down over the last 20 years and today more utilities are considering the life-cycle value of underground cables. The decision by utilities in Sweden to move all their cables underground is especially noteworthy.

As global utilities seek to expand and improve their service to customers in urban and suburban areas, this is also the time to recognize the importance of high-quality cables and components. While the maintenance of underground cables is much less demanding than that of overhead systems, any potential failure of an underground cable system demands more time and money to identify and rectify.

We are seeing increasing recognition for stringent cable qualification protocols that incorporate longer-term wet aging tests, demand for more consistent cable and component quality, and focus on installation procedures. The growing interest in incorporating water tree retardant crosslinked polyethylene insulation (TR-XLPE) and semiconductive shields is further evidence of these trends.

Dow Wire & Cable is heavily engaged in serving our global direct and end-use customers and in future issues of Point-To-Point, we will continue to focus on practices that are transforming global power delivery efficiency. We have one article in this issue by an expert at CenterPoint Energy in Houston, Texas, USA, that summarizes his company's approach to improving its system to maintain the highest quality of power delivery to customers, while minimizing field problems. We look forward to hearing stories of your success as well.

Kind regards,

Ram Ramachandran
Global End Use Marketing Manager
Dow Wire & Cable

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Transforming Global Power Delivery Efficiency