Description
Country: France
For over a century, Nexans has played a crucial role in the electrification of the planet and is committed to electrifying the future. With approximately 28,500 people in 41 countries, the Group is paving the way to a new world of safe, sustainable and decarbonized electricity that is accessible to everyone. In 2024, Nexans generated €7.1 billion in standard sales.
The Group is a leader in the design and manufacturing of cable systems and services across four main business areas: PWR-Transmission, PWR-Grid, PWR-Connect and Industry & Solutions. Nexans was the first company in its industry to create a Foundation supporting sustainable initiatives, bringing access to energy to disadvantaged communities worldwide. The Group is recognized as a global leader on climate action and has committed to Net-Zero emissions by 2050 aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Role under the Project
Nexans’ participation in the Shift2DC project represents a major opportunity to develop cables suited for DC installations, particularly for future buildings. These solutions will incorporate advanced functionalities to ensure safety and optimal interaction with the grid.
Through R&D and pilot project experiments, Nexans is committed to designing high-performance, sustainable DC cables. This development relies on a strategic selection of polymers and formulations, optimized transit capacity management, and an eco-design approach considering conductor selection, product size, and recyclability. The objective is to optimize cable lifecycle while integrating innovations that facilitate installation and rapid on-site connections. Special attention is also given to electrical safety conditions.
The first prototypes, intended for qualification phases, will be produced at the Grimsås pilot plant in Sweden. Nexans will implement a prequalification process to assess the performance of the new DC cables, followed by real-world testing in pilot projects.
Cables play an essential role in electrical installations. They ensure the connection between consumption points, such as heat pumps, cooling systems, or air conditioning, and energy sources like solar panels and batteries, whether for storage or from vehicles. They also enable network interconnection while ensuring the safety of people and equipment.
Throughout the project, several on-site demonstration sites will be deployed: two direct current laboratories and four demonstrators to test developed solutions for:
- Ports: How to power docked cruise ships?
- Buildings: Implementing a DC Micro-Grid in commercial buildings that integrate energy sources and consumers.
- Data Centers: While telecom equipment already operates on DC, how can this be extended to building power supply?
- Industry: Demonstrating the ability to run an industrial site, including automation lines, entirely on DC.
The goal is to demonstrate the real-world benefits of these solutions, validate the functionality of such electrical networks, and ensure the interoperability of all components.
