Prysmian Group has won the “Quick & Simple Substation” innovation challenge organized by Dutch grid operators Alliander, Enexis and Stedin, beating out 13 other submissions with a solution aimed at accelerating the installation of medium-voltage (MV) substations.

A press release said that the challenge focused on identifying scalable methods to strengthen Europe’s power grid infrastructure in response to rising electricity demand and grid modernization pressures linked to the energy transition.

Prysmian’s winning concept features a plug-and-play MV cable solution that uses a flexible prefabricated cable with plug-in connections. The design simplifies the substation installation process, reducing time on-site and enabling faster, technician-friendly deployment. The modular system is intended to be scalable and repeatable, helping utilities reduce reliance on specialized labor and keep up with aggressive grid expansion timelines.

The solution will be initially rolled out in the Netherlands but is designed for wider adoption across international markets. According to Prysmian, the approach offers a template that could benefit hundreds of power networks worldwide through faster grid upgrades and improved system resilience.

Prysmian has completed a 51,000-sq-ft expansion of its Williamsport, Pennsylvania, facility, adding 27 permanent jobs as part of a broad supply and manufacturing agreement with Invenergy, a leading independent power producer.

A press release said that the expansion, representing a $22.5 million investment, will directly support Invenergy’s Grain Belt Express transmission line—currently the largest private-sector-led transmission project in the U.S.—using domestically sourced steel and aluminum for advanced power conductors. The Grain Belt Express will span from Kansas to Indiana, delivering renewable energy to millions and reinforcing grid reliability.

With the expansion, Prysmian doubles its U.S. manufacturing capacity for key advanced transmission conductors, including those that utilize its E3X® technology. The company’s Williamsport site is now positioned as a critical hub in both Prysmian’s and Invenergy’s investments in U.S. energy infrastructure, jobs and supply chains. The plant supports over 270 jobs locally and more than 430 across Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to have a part in this transformative project supplying our most innovative technology for overhead power transmission in the market, E3X®,” said Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian North America President and CEO. “Our expanded Williamsport facility enhances our manufacturing capacity and is another step to strengthening the grid and granting energy independence throughout the United States.”

Prysmian held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 19 at the Encore Wire campus in McKinney, Texas, which will undergo a massive expansion, part of a $500 million project over five years that will see the addition of a state-of-the-art medium voltage cable production facility totaling more than 650,000 sq ft.

A press release said that the investment includes $249 million Prysmian’s Board of Directors approved earlier this year. The groundbreaking “marks a significant advancement for the company, nearly a year after Prysmian’s acquisition of Encore Wire to serve electrical customers in North America through Encore’s outstanding service model.” Expected online in 2027, the plant will significantly increase Prysmian’s medium voltage capacity and add 120 new jobs.

“This new plant will be one of the largest standalone facilities on our campus, which is the largest vertically integrated cable factory on the planet and is a major milestone in the Prysmian/Encore Wire growth,” said Prysmian North America CEO Andrea Pirondini.

Encore Wire started in 1989 with a 68,000 sq-ft industrial warehouse building in McKinney. Over the past 35 years, Encore has grown to over 3.5 million sq ft across 460 acres.

In addition to Prysmian leaders, U. S. Representative Keith Self’s District Director Michelle Bishop presented a Congressional certificate to Pirondini marking the importance of this investment. Governor Greg Abbott also issued a proclamation commemorating the groundbreaking. McKinney’s new Mayor Bill Cox joined other local leaders for the ceremony, including the Michael Kowski from McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Guests signed a commemorative beam that will be placed in a prominent location in the new facility. The medium voltage plant is the first phase of Prysmian’s investments in McKinney. For more on the vertically integrated campus, visit Encore Wire’s website.

Prysmian has formed a partnership with Dow to advance the production of the company’s Sirocco® microduct cables that uses Dow’s AXELERON™ telecom cable compound.

A press release explained that the partnership will help Prysmian achieve its goals. “Through our partnership with Dow, we’re able to evolve and improve on our product lines continuously, helping our customers achieve solutions that are not only environmentally conscious but better for their bottom line,” said Patrick Jacobi, vice president for telecom at Prysmian North America.

AXELERON is a black, UV-stabilized HDPE cable jacket material designed for power and telecom applications and ensures a low coefficient of friction (COF) and extremely low shrinkage. This enables an extremely high fiber count in smaller diameter cables and increases cable installation efficiency offering excellent toughness, weather resistance, and high-speed extrusion processing.

Of note, Dow’s AXELERON cable compound and Prysmian’s Sirocco microduct cable were recognized as a winning co-development technology in the 2024 R&D 100 Awards in the Mechanical/Materials category. The program identifies and celebrates the top 100 revolutionary technologies of the year and is considered a prestigious award in the research and development communities.

To facilitate the growing need for Sirocco cables in the U.S., Prysmian has made significant investments across its North American footprint, including a $30 million investment in its factory in Jackson, Tennessee. The site has been retooled from producing legacy copper to fiber optic cable production. A $50 million multi-year modernization project at Prysmian’s Claremont fiber facility has also enhanced process capabilities, systems and technologies to support future growth.

Prysmian has been awarded a four-year agreement, plus two optional two-year extension periods, for the supply of Extra-High-Voltage underground (EHV) cable systems from Statnett, a Transmission System Operator in Norway and a key player within North Europe’s power system.

A press release said that the contract’s scope of work consists of the supply and turnkey installation of 420 kV cables and accessories, which will be manufactured at Prysmian’s plant in the Netherlands (Delft). The order confirms Prysmian’s leadership position in the segment and underlines the partnership between Statnett and Prysmian. The award criteria were linked to climate and environmental impact of the proposal, together with quality, with Prysmian obtaining a maximum score.

“With this agreement we have taken a further major step in terms of growth, consolidating our leadership position in Europe,” said Marcello Del Brenna, CEO of Prysmian Europe.

Prysmian was awarded a €550 million contract in 2015 from Statnett SF and National Grid NSN Link Ltd. for some 950 km of submarine and land HVDC cable for an interconnector linking Norway and the U.K.

Prysmian announced the names of the two vessels that will join the company’s fleet: the Prysmian Alessandro Volta and the Prysmian Marco Polo.

A press release said that the new additions will expand Prysmian’s fleet to a total of eight operational vessels, further strengthening the company’s leadership in the global submarine cable market. Both vessels will boast outstanding green credentials, including high-voltage shore connection systems for clean energy during loading operations, diesel generators suitable for biodiesel blends, and battery hybrid systems for the deep-water vessel.

The Prysmian Alessandro Volta pays tribute to the esteemed Italian physicist and chemist (1745-1827). The vessel is about 193 meters long and 34 meters wide. It will feature advanced cable installation solutions, including three carousels with a total capacity of 19,500 metric tons. It will be operational in 2027. The name choice marks the strong link with Prysmian core business, which is producing and installing power cable to provide electrical connection among countries.

The Prysmian Marco Polo, named after the famed explorer/merchant (1254-1324), is about 167 meters long and 40 meters wide. It will have two carousels, one split into two concentric sections, with a total cable loading capacity of at least 8,000 metric tons. The vessel will be equipped with state-of-the-art DP3 positioning and seakeeping systems. It will be operational in 2025.

The Prysmian Group has dropped its plans to build a subsea power cable plant in Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts, a turn of events that was widely seen as being linked to the election of President Donald Trump.

Multiple reports in local media said that the Prysmian Group—which spent more than two years getting the necessary permits—issued a statement two days before Trump took office on January 20. “Prysmian is continuously evaluating market opportunities for our capacity to be aligned with demand ... and to also carry out efficient and timely investments,” said its statement, which did not mention Trump. “As a result ... Prysmian has decided to not proceed with the purchase of the land in Somerset.”

In 2022, President Joe Biden appeared at the site of the former coal plant to deliver a speech about the dangers of climate change and the benefits of clean energy like offshore wind.

Prysmian’s plan to invest $300 million in the Brayton Point factory would enable manufacturing submarine inter-array and export cables up to 275 kV AC or 525 kV DC to connect offshore wind farms to mainland power grids. A Prysmian press release said the production “would be used to deliver power from several new offshore wind farms that are vital to President Biden’s goal of installing 30 GW in offshore wind power by 2030.”

President Trump was cited by many as the cause for the reversal. Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss described the news as disappointing and discouraging. “Donald Trump has unraveled that promise of good jobs by threatening a moratorium on offshore wind, generating so much uncertainty that companies pull back investment.”

In his first day in office, President Trump—who has long opposed clean energy and EV subsidies—signed an executive order temporarily halting offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and pausing issuance of approvals, permits and loans for both onshore and offshore wind projects.

Prysmian reports that it has signed a Framework Agreement with Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), the French TSO, for the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (“EPCI”) of submarine power cable links.

A press release said that the links will connect two offshore wind farms to the French transmission grid, specifically the “Fos Project” and the “Narbonnaise Project”, covering both submarine and land parts (including also landfall works). The projects are subject to call off by RTE and finalization of the terms of the relevant EPCI contracts, which are expected to occur during the period 2026-2027. Delivery and commissioning is set for 2031-2032. These two EPCI contracts are altogether estimated at a potential value of approximately €700 million.

Each single project will consist of three High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) 225 kV three-core export cables with XLPE insulation, all equipped with synthetic armor. The approximately 400 km of land cables will be produced locally, in Gron, France, while the approximately 240 km of submarine cables will be manufactured at Prysmian’s centre of excellence in Arco Felice, Italy, and Pikkala, Finland, for a grand total of approx. 640 km of cables (land and submarine). Installation operation will be carried out using one of Prysmian’s proprietary advanced cable-laying vessels.

The Fos Project will be located on the coast of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and will require some 300 km of cables (land and submarine), while the Narbonnaise Project, located on the coast of Occitanie will require about 340 km of cables (land and submarine), providing individually a potential capacity of 750 MW.

The projects were described as having strategic importance for RTE’s long-term plan power grid plans. Prysmian has a strong relationship with RTE from previous projects such as the France-Spain (Bay of Biscay), France – UK (IFA2) and Italy-France (Piedmont-Savoy) interconnections. “The development of offshore wind in France confirms Prysmian’s leadership in the sector, following the completed projects for submarine power cables in other offshore wind farms such as Fécamp, Calvados and Saint Nazaire and ongoing projects as Noirmoutier.”