Power cable with low carbon materials

NKT continues its journey to supporting the green transition with a new low voltage cable that has a significantly lower carbon footprint than its predecessors. In its first project, the cable is used by Ellevio for a power grid installation in Sweden.  

NKT can design, manufacture and deliver a 1 kV cable for the Swedish electricity grid that has a significantly lower carbon footprint. The cable is manufactured with low carbon aluminum and polyolefins at NKT's factory in Falun, which is powered by renewable electricity. The new cable has been developed in close cooperation with the Swedish electricity grid company Ellevio, which is also the first customer to use it. 

“With this cable, NKT takes a leading role in developing the next generation of power distribution cables. This project also highlights NKT and Ellevio’s successful cooperation to take the next step towards more sustainable cable systems without jeopardizing quality”, says Peter Marcusson, Head of Renewables Northern Europe at NKT.

This innovative power cable is the result of a close cooperation between Nordic suppliers. It is manufactured with low carbon aluminum from the Norwegian company Hydro. The aluminum is produced with an efficient electrolysis technology, powered by renewable energy sources during the process. This ensures a carbon footprint of 4 kg CO₂ per kg aluminum - less than a quarter of the global average*. The cable insulation and sheathing is supplied by Borealis and is manufactured with renewable feedstocks while offering the same material performance as virgin polyolefins.

“The cable design and manufacturing follow high quality standards as for all NKT products. As a further step in the project, we are currently developing EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), a third-party verification that will report and account for the CO₂ savings from the cable's entire life cycle. The collaboration with our customers and suppliers enable us to manufacture a product that uses materials with lower environmental impact, thus strengthen our  journey towards more environmental friendly product portfolio”, says Susanne Breiner, VP and Head of Product Development and R&D at NKT.

“As an electricity grid provider for around one million homes and businesses in Sweden, our company plays a key role in the transition to an electrified and renewables-based society. As we are preparing the grid for the energy transition, we want to turn every stone to reduce our own footprint. Emissions from the manufacturing process of cables and overhead lines account for approximately 60 percent of our carbon footprint. It is one of our most prioritized improvement areas, and NKT’s innovative cable is an important initiative. We’re honored to be the first customer”, says Karolina Viksten, Sustainability Manager at Ellevio.

With this project, NKT continues to strengthen its sustainability work and be a key partner in enabling the European green transition.

“We see a growing market demand for more environmentally friendly products and solutions and are proud to be among the first to deliver an innovative low voltage cable after a close collaboration with our customers and suppliers,” says Will Hendrikx, Executive Vice President and Head of Applications at NKT.

 

 

*https://www.hydro.com/en/aluminium/products/low-carbon-aluminium/