Jan 8, 2026
How deep can you go? Subsea cable installed at unprecedented depth.
Nexans has achieved a world record for subsea cable installation at a depth of 2,150 meters (7,054 feet), marking a significant milestone for Italy’s Tyrrhenian Link project.
This record was established during an offshore campaign in December, confirming the deepest installation ever completed for a 500 kV high-voltage direct current subsea cable.
The final milestone was accomplished on January 1, 2026, with the second pull-in operation, which connected the cable landing points in Sardinia and Sicily, thereby concluding all high-voltage subsea laying operations.
Nexans’ responsibility included the western section of the project, involving approximately 480 kilometers (298 miles) of deep-water subsea cable, laid in two offshore campaigns of around 200 kilometers (124 miles) and 280 kilometers (174 miles).
The complete Tyrrhenian Link comprises two 500 kV HVDC subsea connections, each roughly 970 kilometers (603 miles) long, offering a combined transmission capacity of 1,000 MW.
This interconnector aims to enhance Italy’s national transmission grid, increase system resilience, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy between the mainland, Sicily, and Sardinia.
Pascal Radue, Executive Vice President PWR-Transmission at Nexans, stated, “Achieving a world record at 2,150 meters and completing the high-voltage subsea cable installation phase of the Tyrrhenian Link are significant milestones for Nexans.”
He noted that installing a 500 kV HVDC cable at such depths required extraordinary precision in engineering, manufacturing, and vessel operations.
This achievement highlights the expanding technical capabilities of deep-water transmission as power grids extend further offshore and across greater distances.
This record was established during an offshore campaign in December, confirming the deepest installation ever completed for a 500 kV high-voltage direct current subsea cable.
The final milestone was accomplished on January 1, 2026, with the second pull-in operation, which connected the cable landing points in Sardinia and Sicily, thereby concluding all high-voltage subsea laying operations.
Nexans’ responsibility included the western section of the project, involving approximately 480 kilometers (298 miles) of deep-water subsea cable, laid in two offshore campaigns of around 200 kilometers (124 miles) and 280 kilometers (174 miles).
The complete Tyrrhenian Link comprises two 500 kV HVDC subsea connections, each roughly 970 kilometers (603 miles) long, offering a combined transmission capacity of 1,000 MW.
This interconnector aims to enhance Italy’s national transmission grid, increase system resilience, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy between the mainland, Sicily, and Sardinia.
Pascal Radue, Executive Vice President PWR-Transmission at Nexans, stated, “Achieving a world record at 2,150 meters and completing the high-voltage subsea cable installation phase of the Tyrrhenian Link are significant milestones for Nexans.”
He noted that installing a 500 kV HVDC cable at such depths required extraordinary precision in engineering, manufacturing, and vessel operations.
This achievement highlights the expanding technical capabilities of deep-water transmission as power grids extend further offshore and across greater distances.