WiredInUSA-December2015

INDEX

Cable industry “ready to deliver”

The e-Highway2050 clearly identified that Europe needs to expand its electricity transmission grids by 2050 to match the increase in electricity generation, notably wind and solar. “Whatever the European energy landscape will look like in 2050, it appears indispensable for the security and affordability of the power system to reinforce the connections of the north and the south with the central continental areas in Europe,” saidGerald Sanchis, e-Highway2050 coordinator. “Industry is here to deliver Europe’s future grids,” was Mr Gil’s key message. “With over 70,000 people generating a turnover over €20 billion in 2014, the wire and cable industry will not be the bottleneck to building Europe’s 2050 power transmission grids – neither technological nor capacity-wise. We are ready to deliver.”

Raul Gil, chairman of the Europacable utilities board, represented Europacable at the final eHighway2050 conference, “Unveiling the electricity highways project results: Europe’s future secure and sustainable electricity infrastructure”. After 40 months of investigation the commission-funded project concluded that close to zero emissions by 2050 demands an investment in electricity transmission of between €100 billion and €400 billion. “Looking into Europe’s future grid, partial undergrounding and submarine cables complementing overhead lines in sensitive areas will play a vital role in grid deployment to enhance public acceptance of power transmission lines. We hope that all stakeholders understand this message in Europe,” Mr Gil stated in his opening message to an audience of senior policy makers, regulators and technical experts from across Europe.

wiredInUSA - December 2015

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