Nexans Expands Subsea Cable Plant in Norway to Meet Rising Energy Transition Demand
France-headquartered cable systems designer and manufacturer Nexans has recently completed the expansion of its high voltage subsea cable plant in Norway to cater to the increasing demand in the offshore wind and electrification sectors of the global energy transition. This expansion comes in response to the growing need for electrification and energy transition tools worldwide.
With the addition of a new section to the plant in Halden, Norway, Nexans now boasts cutting-edge cable production technology capable of delivering subsea cables up to 525 kV for high voltage direct current (HVDC) and 420 kV for high voltage alternating current (HVAC). The CEO of Nexans, Christopher Guerin, highlighted the significance of this investment, emphasizing the company’s dedication to sustainability and the global energy transition.
The expansion, which more than doubles the plant’s capacity for HVDC extruded cables, is expected to support key projects like the frame agreement with TenneT. The new section of the plant features a second extrusion tower standing at 152.89 meters tall, making it the tallest building in Norway and the first skyscraper in the country. This tower will focus on producing HVDC cables for offshore wind farms and serve both HVDC and HVAC applications.
The expansion has also led to the hiring of 100 new employees who have been trained to handle the increased production at the facility. Additionally, local indirect jobs are anticipated to be created to support the supply chain in Europe and beyond, bringing the total headcount at the plant to around 1,000 workers. Nexans’ EVP of Generation and Transmission Business Group, Pascal Radue, stressed the importance of the expanded plant in meeting the growing demand for cable production in an increasingly electrified world.
Nexans’ Halden plant, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, has a rich history of innovation in cable production. The plant’s first extrusion tower was constructed in 1992 to introduce high voltage XLPE insulated cables into Nexans’ product portfolio. Today, the facility plays a critical role in connecting renewables to shore and facilitating the transmission of electricity across continents.
In addition to its ongoing projects, Nexans is currently involved in the installation of the HVAC onshore cable in Ireland for the Celtic Interconnector, a groundbreaking initiative that will enhance the exchange of electricity between Ireland and France. The collaboration with Greece’s Asso.subsea for subsea burial operations highlights Nexans’ commitment to driving the energy transition and expanding green electricity infrastructure worldwide.