INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cabling

Company signs capacity reservation agreement with Transpower New Zealand to reserve capability to deliver a submarine power interconnector project .

With an overall capacity of up to 1400 MW , the new power link will replace existing cable infrastructure which is nearing the end of its operational life , providing significant benefits to the country , ensuring reliable and cost-effective electricity supply , while supporting the increasing electricity demand in New Zealand .

New Zealand , which has no power connections with other countries , relies on its inter- island submarine power cables to move power from established renewable hydro generation in the South Island to growing population centres in the North Island across the 40km wide Cook Strait .

The contract will now be negotiated and is expected to be finalised in Q1 2026 with a notice to proceed expected by 1H 2026 and commissioning planned in 2031 .

Prysmian has reserved the capacity to design , test , supply and install a HVDC ( High Voltage Direct Current ) Cable System , consisting of 350 kV single-core cables with MI ( Mass Impregnated ) insulation and double-wire armouring and integrated fiber optic – essential for monitoring purposes .

The capacity to manufacture submarine cable has been reserved at Prysmian ’ s centre of excellence in Arco Felice ( Italy ), while the capacity for the installation operations has been reserved with one of the new Company ’ s record-setting cable-laying vessels ( like Monna Lisa

Cook Strait – dividing New Zealand ’ s North and South Islands class ), due to the water depth of around 250 meters .

Prysmian will also make use of its proprietary fully integrated EOSS monitoring system based on more than 20 years ’ experience in this field .

All cables will be constantly monitored using the EOSS innovative solutions like Distributed Temperature ( DTS ) and Acoustic Sensing ( DAS ) to measure all key operating parameters along with the whole cable system .

As a turnkey solution provider , Prysmian can offer its comprehensive 360 ° strategic approach by integrating innovative and smart components with consolidated cable technologies , leveraging on the widest range of installation capabilities . p

Two-way power flow through the link is critical to ensure that in ‘ dry years ’, where rainfall and snowmelt does not provide sufficient storage into hydro schemes , bulk power can be transferred in the opposite direction ( North Island to South Island ) – as was seen in 2024 .

Prysmian will make available a full turnkey solution for the project , also with its stateof-the-art and proprietary EOSS monitoring system in place . An essential service that will help ensure the long-term security and lifespan of the project .

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