Original Korean article: Energy News
Daehan Electric Wire is stepping up its bid for Europe's power grid market, leveraging its high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable and submarine cable production and installation infrastructure. The strategy is to expand its position beyond product supply to encompass turnkey operations covering design through construction, as renewable energy expansion and cross-border power grid interconnection projects increase in Europe.
Daehan Electric Wire announced on the 25th that it participated in the International Council on Large Electric Systems 'CIGRE 2026' held in Paris, France from the 23rd to the 28th, where it unveiled its HVDC and ultra-high-voltage cable systems and submarine cable business infrastructure.
The centerpiece of the exhibition was the submarine cable turnkey solution. The focus was on informing European power authorities and project owners that the company can provide cable design, production, transportation, installation, and maintenance as a single integrated business system.
Submarine Cable Factory and Installation Vessel Combined
Daehan Electric Wire introduced its production base, including its currently operating submarine cable Plant 1 and Plant 2, which aims to produce 640kV-class HVDC and 400kV-class HVAC submarine cables.
The company also prominently featured cable laying vessels (CLV) 'PALOS' and 'Skandi Connector'. In the submarine cable industry, transportation and offshore installation capability, not just product manufacturing, determine project awards. Having both production facilities and cable laying vessel operation capability reduces schedule delays from external ship procurement and is advantageous for executing projects comprehensively.
Daehan Electric Wire's emphasis on turnkey capabilities reflects its assessment that in Europe's offshore wind and cross-border power grid interconnection projects, cable supply alone makes it difficult to secure profitability and project leadership.
500kV Current-Source and 525kV Voltage-Source HVDC Unveiled
The exhibition also unveiled a 500kV current-source HVDC cable system and a 525kV voltage-source HVDC onshore cable system. According to the company, both systems were developed for the first time in Korea.
Current-source HVDC is suited for transmitting large amounts of power over long distances, while voltage-source HVDC is widely used in projects requiring flexible power flow control, such as offshore wind integration and cross-border grid connections. As renewable energy generation facilities in Europe increasingly locate far from power consumption areas, demand for related cables is expanding.
Daehan Electric Wire also introduced a test center capable of simultaneously testing two circuits of 640kV-class onshore and submarine HVDC cables. Since long-term performance testing and customer certification are key conditions for awards in ultra-high-voltage cable projects, securing in-house testing infrastructure can influence the speed of market entry.
Securing Actual Orders Remains a Challenge Despite Expanding European Demand
During CIGRE, Daehan Electric Wire met with major European power authorities and business partners to discuss ongoing projects and cooperation methods. The company also presented ultra-high-voltage cable projects executed in North America, the Middle East, and Asia, emphasizing its overseas project experience.
The global ultra-high-voltage and submarine cable market has favorable growth conditions as AI data center expansion, renewable energy growth, and aging power grid replacement converge. However, the European market faces intense competition from local companies and global cable manufacturers, and project owners prioritize customer certification and long-term operational track records.
Accordingly, whether Daehan Electric Wire can expand its European business will depend on completing its planned production and installation infrastructure development and proving the long-term reliability of its HVDC systems to convert them into actual project awards.
