Great Sea Interconnector cable completes deep-sea testing

The Nexans company has successfully completed sea trials for the subsea power cables of the Greece-Cyprus Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) project. The testing took place west of Sicily, Italy, using the cable-laying vessel Nexans Aurora. The operation simulated the installation of a 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable at depths of 3,000 meters. The process involved the deployment and retrieval of cable sections, followed by high-voltage electrical tests at 30% above standard industrial levels and a visual inspection. Nexans stated that the successful outcome validates the technical feasibility of the project at these extreme depths. Collected data will now undergo formal technical evaluation and quality certification. The GSI is considered one of the longest and deepest subsea power interconnection projects currently in development worldwide.