Abstract
As an important pillar of the national economy, China’s cable industry plays an irreplaceable role in power transmission, information communication, new energy and other fields. In 2022, the total output value of the industry reached 1.64 trillion yuan, ranking second in the machinery industry. The annual consumption of copper and aluminum conductors reached 7.54 million tons and 2.2 million tons respectively, and the utilization rate of recycled copper increased significantly. This article analyzes the development status and trends of the power cable industry from seven dimensions, including technological breakthroughs, material innovation, standardization construction, and digital transformation, and explores its strategic path under the dual carbon goals, providing forward-looking reference for industry participants.
1. Power cable technology innovation: the core engine supporting energy transformation
With the rapid development of UHV power grids and new energy power generation, power cables are upgrading to high voltage, large capacity and intelligence. For example, domestic ultra-high voltage cables have broken through the key technology of 500kV and have been applied on a large scale on 330kV lines, solving the loss problem of long-distance power transmission. In addition, the localization process of insulating materials has accelerated. For example, the performance of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is comparable to the international level, and the cost has been reduced by more than 30%, which has promoted the optimization of power grid transformation costs. In the field of new energy, the high temperature and UV resistance of photovoltaic cables have been significantly improved, and the service life has been extended to 25 years, which is suitable for desert and offshore photovoltaic scenes.
2. Conductor material revolution: breakthroughs in recycled copper and high-performance alloys
In order to achieve the “dual carbon” goal, the cable industry has accelerated the promotion of “saving copper with aluminum” and circular economy. In 2022, the use of recycled copper rods will reach 3.5 million tons, accounting for 46% of the total copper conductors in the industry. The copper content after refining will reach 99.9%, the conductivity will exceed 100% IACS, and the energy consumption will be reduced by 60% compared with traditional processes. Aluminum alloy materials have also made progress. The conductivity of Al-Mg-Si alloy wires has been increased to 57.5% IACS, and the tensile strength has been increased by 15%. They are widely used in lightweight automobiles and power grid transformation. The research and development breakthrough of single crystal copper cables (wire diameter 0.09mm) further promotes the performance upgrade of 5G communications and high-end electronic equipment.
3. Carbon fiber composite materials: disruptors of deep sea and ultra-high voltage scenarios
Carbon fiber reinforced core cables show significant advantages in ultra-high voltage and large span lines. The second-generation carbon fiber conductor was tested on a 220kV line, with a tensile strength of 40% higher than that of traditional steel cores, a weight reduction of 60%, and a reduction of 20% in tower construction costs. In the field of deep-sea cables, carbon fiber composite aluminum armor technology withstands deep-sea pressure of 1000 atmospheres, supports the laying of 10,000-meter submarine cables, and helps offshore wind power grid connection and transoceanic communications. In addition, the application of carbon fiber in oil exploration cables makes it possible to operate in Xinjiang’s 9472-meter ultra-deep wells, achieving a double breakthrough in lightweight and high temperature resistance (300°C).
4. Standardization and quality traceability: a way out of industry chaos
Fires caused by non-standard cables account for more than 50% of major domestic accidents. JD Industry and Shanghai Cable Research Institute launched a “one item, one code” traceability system, which realizes full-link quality monitoring through Ecode identification, and increases the removal rate of counterfeit and shoddy products by 90%. The implementation of the national energy industry standard NB/T 10194-2019 and the group standard T/CES 197-2023 has standardized the production process of recycled copper and aluminum alloy strips, and promoted the market share of high-quality products from 65% to 82%.
5. Digital transformation: supply chain efficiency and customized production
JD Industry relies on the digital supply chain to shorten the cable procurement time to “211” (same-day or next-day delivery), and reduce storage costs by 30%. The industrial Internet platform integrates data from 90,000 manufacturers, accurately schedules production through demand forecasting, and reduces inventory backlogs by 20%. In addition, AI-driven cable design software can shorten the R&D cycle from 6 months to 45 days and support customized product development. For example, multi-layer shielded cables designed for smart grids have an anti-interference performance improvement of 50%.
6. Industrial clusters and market structure: from decentralized to intensive competition
China has formed three major cable industry clusters in the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and the regional supporting efficiency has increased by 40%. However, the industry concentration is still low, and 90% of the 7,000 companies focus on the medium and low voltage markets, with severe homogeneous competition. In the future, leading companies will seize the high-end market of ultra-high voltage (such as ±1100kV DC cables) and special cables (such as radiation-resistant cables for nuclear power) through mergers and acquisitions. It is estimated that the industry scale will reach 1.6 trillion yuan in 2027.
7. Talent Strategy: Collaboration between Industry, University and Research to Cultivate New Quality Productivity
The talent gap of cable professionals exceeds 100,000, and only a few universities offer related disciplines. National People’s Congress representative Han Qifang suggested building a “double first-class” vocational education and promoting joint training between enterprises and colleges, such as the joint construction of a training base by Chenguang Cable and Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, which delivers 500 skilled talents annually. At the same time, the industry needs to strengthen the reserve of “technology + management” compound talents to cope with the complex needs of smart grids and overseas EPC projects (such as the construction of high-voltage power grids in Southeast Asia).
Summary
China’s cable industry is shifting from scale expansion to quality and innovation-driven. UHV technology, carbon fiber applications, digital supply chain and standardization system have established four pillars for the high-quality development of the industry. In the future, with the implementation of the 670 billion yuan grid investment in the “14th Five-Year Plan” and the outbreak of emerging demands such as new energy and deep-sea exploration, the cable industry needs to continue to focus on material innovation, process upgrades and global layout. Only through the deep integration of technological breakthroughs, ecological synergy and talent strategy can we achieve the leap from a “manufacturing power” to a “smart manufacturing power”.