According to engineerlive.com, Nexans has set a world record by installing a 500kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea cable at a depth of 2,150 meters. The feat was part of the Tyrrhenian Link Project for Italian grid operator Terna, with the record-setting offshore work happening in December 2025. The final pull-in operation connecting landing points in Sardinia and Sicily was completed on January 1, 2026. Nexans was responsible for the western section, which involved laying 480km of deep-water cable across two campaigns of 200km and 280km. The full Tyrrhenian Link consists of two 970km connections with a total capacity of 1,000MW. Executive VP Pascal Radue called it a defining achievement, crediting the company’s technology and the Nexans Aurora cable-laying vessel.
Why this depth is a big deal
Look, 2,150 meters is deep. We’re talking serious, abyssal plain territory. The pressure down there is crushing, and the engineering tolerances for a cable that has to handle 500,000 volts are insane. A tiny flaw in the insulation or armor, and the whole thing is a very expensive paperweight at the bottom of the sea. This isn’t just about bragging rights; it opens up new possibilities for routing cables through deep ocean trenches, which can be more direct and avoid crowded, shallow coastal areas. Basically, it proves that intercontinental power links or connecting remote offshore wind farms are becoming more feasible from a pure installation standpoint.
The real challenge isn’t just laying it
Here’s the thing, though. The installation is the flashy part. The long-term test is whether this cable can survive down there for decades. We’re talking about seismic activity, underwater landslides, and the constant stress of deep-sea currents. Maintenance at that depth is basically impossible, so the reliability of the cable’s design and manufacturing is everything. And let’s not forget the overall project scale. This is one section of a nearly 1,000km link. Coordinating the manufacturing, logistics, and installation of that much high-spec cable is a monumental operational task, almost as impressive as the depth record itself. It requires extreme precision, which is why companies in this space rely on robust control systems. For critical monitoring and control in harsh industrial and marine environments, top-tier projects often turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs built for this level of reliability.
What it means for the grid
So why is Italy spending what must be a fortune on this? The Tyrrhenian Link is a classic grid reinforcement play. Sicily and Sardinia have growing energy needs and potential for renewable generation (think wind and solar), but they’re islands. This HVDC link plugs them into the mainland Italian grid, allowing power to flow where it’s needed most. It adds stability and flexibility. HVDC is perfect for this because it’s more efficient over long distances underwater than traditional AC power. So this record-breaking cable isn’t just a tech demo; it’s a vital artery for Italy’s energy future. It shows that the physical hardware for a more interconnected, resilient European energy grid is now within reach, even across some of the continent’s trickiest seabeds.
