The first section of a 400 kV high voltage line with an ACSS-type high temperature conductor was installed in France in June. This conductor was supplied by ECN, a General Cable company, and is part of the initial delivery of a total of 1,200 km, which is to be installed in the next two years. 

This is the first large-scale installation of ACSS conductors in Europe and has been promoted by the French company RTE, which manages the largest energy transport networks in Europe, a fact that indicates the size and significance of the project.

The 400 kV line is located between the towns of Tamareau and Tavel in southeast France. The installation was completed successfully and the line is now completely operational. In addition to supplying the conductor, General Cable was also involved in training the team responsible for assembly and in the supervision of installation work.

RTE is firmly committed to this new technology for the replacement of over 7,000 km of conductors in the next five years. The use of this conductor type means that greater transport capacity can be given to the line, while maintaining the towers and insulator strings. It also means the construction of new lines is unnecessary and makes the system more reliable as it is able to withstand temporary overloads. In addition, it allows for future growth in the consumption of electrical energy.

The work, which involved the replacement of the existing conductor with an ACSS and its associated fittings, lasted three weeks. The teams that undertook the work showed complete adaptation to the new conductor and experienced no problems of in stringing operations, which are the same as for a conventional conductor.

The new installation is highly advantageous both to RTE and to consumers because it solves the problem of supply shortages in periods of over-consumption. This is particularly important in a line that is part of an interconnection of the network with Spain. It is also a considerable success for General Cable, which has managed to transfer efficiently the manufacturing technology for these types of conductors from its plants in the United States and Canada to the Vitoria-Gasteiz (ECN) plant in record time.

This success places General Cable among the world’s leading manufacturers of high temperature conductors. The company continues to work with different European companies in the electricity sector to respond to problems in the transport of energy with alternatives of proven efficacy, based on its 30 years’ experience. The next large-scale project to be undertaken by General Cable is the installation of an ACSS conductor in the Alps. This line belongs to the connection between France and Italy.