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An LS Cable & System employee tests an HVDC cable. / Courtesy of LS Cable & System

LS Cable & System is stepping up its push into the West Coast Energy Highway project as it moves forward with the commercialization of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cables featuring the country's highest transmission capacity.

The company announced on July 9 that its 525kV, 80-degree Celsius HVDC submarine cable has successfully passed the pre-qualification (PQ) test for the first time in South Korea.

Passing the PQ test establishes a foundation for LS Cable & System to supply 525kV, 80-degree Celsius submarine cables optimized for the West Coast Energy Highway project. The PQ test is a rigorous international certification process designed to verify long-term performance and reliability. Having cleared this hurdle, the company will only need to complete a standard type test to begin supplying the product once a project is secured.

The newly certified cable raises the allowable conductor temperature from the conventional 70 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees Celsius, boosting total power transmission capacity by up to 25%. Tailored for long-distance, high-capacity transmission, this next-generation submarine cable requires ultra-high voltage insulation technology and exceptional long-term reliability.

The global HVDC market is expanding rapidly, fueled by growing demands for long-distance, large-capacity power grids to support the proliferation of AI data centers and renewable energy deployment. LS Cable & System remains the only South Korean manufacturer with commercial track records in this segment, having supplied HVDC cables to the Jeju No. 2 and No. 3 interconnection projects as well as Europe’s TenneT projects.

"Passing this PQ test serves as an important milestone in our strategy to target the next-generation national power grid market," an LS Cable & System official noted. "Leveraging our turnkey manufacturing and installation capabilities alongside LS Marine Solution, we will continue to strengthen our presence in both the West Coast Energy Highway project and the global HVDC market."

                                                                                                          Son Kang-hoon