LS Eco Energy is moving to commercialize high-end 400-kilovolt (kV) extra-high-voltage power cables as it steps up its push into the global power market, including the United States.
The company said Wednesday that its Vietnam manufacturing unit, LS-VINA, will begin international certification and PQ testing for 400kV-class extra-high-voltage cables.
It plans to complete a year of performance verification and long-term operating reliability evaluation, then start mass production in the second half of next year.
PQ is a key process that evaluates long-term stability of an entire system on the assumption it will be used on an actual transmission grid. It is widely seen as a requirement for winning major global transmission projects.
LS-VINA currently produces cables up to 230kV. The 400kV class has been a flagship extra-high-voltage product line produced by LS Cable & System. Once the project is completed, LS Eco Energy will secure an extra-high-voltage portfolio comparable to the LS Cable & System headquarters level, the company said.
The 400kV class is used for national backbone transmission networks, large industrial complexes, AI data centers, and grid connections for offshore wind and solar power. It enables long-distance, high-capacity transmission and is a high value-added product category that requires strict quality and stability standards.
Global demand for extra-high-voltage cables has been rising quickly as data center power needs grow and as the United States and Europe replace aging grids and expand transmission investment, the company said.
Industry forecasts estimate annual U.S. electricity demand will rise from about 4,100 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 to more than 5,000 TWh by 2030, driven by expanding AI data centers.
LS Eco Energy recently secured U.S. certification for 230kV-class cables, laying the groundwork for market entry. If it also secures PQ for the 400kV class, it expects to be able to participate in bids for major global transmission projects, strengthening its competitiveness.
A company official said, "Entering the 400kV class will be an opportunity to accelerate expansion into advanced markets and speed a shift to a profitability-focused business structure."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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