Nexans has announced plans to invest €90 million to support the growth of offshore wind in Europe. The investment will include the construction of a new 53-metre tower for the insulation of onshore cables at Nexans’ plant in Charleroi, Belgium.
This investment will allow for the production of 3,000 mm² 525kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) onshore cables necessary to support TenneT’s three grid projects: BalWin 3, LanWin 4, and LanWin 2 under the frame work agreement signed last year.
The investment will also include upgrades to the cable manufacturing process, such as a new stranding line, a degassing system specifically designed for HVDC cables, and a new aluminium drawing line to increase the volume of aluminium wire production.
While the majority of the investment will be directed at upgrading its manufacturing plant in Charleroi, Nexans’ other facilities will also benefit, including a new HVDC lab with a hall specifically built for 525kV HVDC testing at its Calais facility in France, and a new injection press at its power accessories facility in collaboration with teams in Erembodegem, Belgium. The investment will begin in 2025 and run through 2026 when the work is completed.
