Power cables are cables used for the transmission and distribution of high-power electrical energy; they consist of a core, an insulation layer, a shielding layer, and a protective sheath. They are primarily deployed in scenarios such as urban underground power grids and power station feeder lines. Based on voltage levels, they are classified into low-voltage, medium-voltage, high-voltage, and ultra-high-voltage cables, with insulation materials including types such as polypropylene and cross-linked polyethylene.
In 1879, Thomas A. Edison laid the first underground power transmission cable in New York, USA. Polypropylene-insulated cables have become a key focus for green development due to characteristics such as recyclability and a 45% reduction in production energy consumption. Domestically produced polypropylene insulation materials have demonstrated a 10% increase in dielectric breakdown strength, while the manufacturing cost per unit length for cables rated at 35 kV and below has decreased by 17%. The 750 kV ultra-high-voltage cable system-jointly developed by Jiangsu Shangshang Cable and Ankoc Smart Electric-has successfully passed national testing. This system represents a technological breakthrough in the dynamic management of large-scale materials and the control of thermal effects, and its accompanying accessories have been fully localized. Notably, this system features the world's first cable joint product to successfully pass a complete type test for a 750 kV cable line.
Guda Cable Group customized medium-voltage power cables for the Huajiang Gorge Bridge project; these products are characterized by excellent conductivity, high mechanical strength, and strong corrosion resistance. Domestically produced 500 kV cable joints are priced 65% lower than comparable foreign products, thereby propelling the domestic cable industry into the ultra-high-voltage era. In the State Grid Corporation's 2025 bidding for power transmission and transformation projects, 33 enterprises secured winning bids for the power cable segment, with Qingdao Hanhe Cable Co., Ltd. topping the list of winning bid amounts at 270 million RMB. Power cables must obtain a production license, undergo mandatory 3C certification, and pass specific industry certifications before they can be approved for grid connection and operation.
