ACCC CARDIFF CONDUCTOR PASSES MAJOR TESTING MILESTONE

Testing of the new ACCC Cardiff conductor has passed a major milestone, bringing innovative grid technology designed in Wales closer to deployment.

The successful type testing builds on Green GEN Cymru’s announcement in March, when we unveiled ACCC Cardiff as a next-generation, high-capacity conductor designed for Welsh weather conditions. It marked an important step in our ambition to modernise grid infrastructure while reducing environmental and visual impact.

Developed to meet growing demand on the electricity system, ACCC Cardiff combines higher capacity with the resilience and reliability needed for Wales’ challenging conditions. Its higher capacity allows us to carry more power on smaller pylons, helping modernise the grid while reducing visual impact.

The ACCC Cardiff follows established international naming conventions used for other conductor variants, including “Hamburg” and “Oslo”. Being the first developer to successfully type test this variation secured Green GEN Cymru the opportunity to formally designate the Cardiff variant.

Last month, Green GEN Cymru’s Head of Construction and Supply Chain, Steve Rowlands, and Senior Overhead Line Engineer, Sven Hoffmann, travelled to Antwerp to oversee type testing at Lamifil’s specialist facility. Lamifil, a global leading manufacturer of advanced overhead conductors, was chosen as a partner by Green GEN Cymru for this project, because of its extensive experience developing, producing and deploying ACCC® conductors worldwide.

The programme assessed the conductor as a complete system, including surface condition, dimensions, mechanical strength, electrical resistance and performance under load. It was designed to confirm the conductor meets the performance, durability and safety standards required for modern overhead line networks.

The conductor exceeded expectations during testing, giving confidence for the next stage of design and production.

Commenting on the test, Steve Rowlands, Head of Construction and Supply Chain said:
“When we announced ACCC Cardiff in March, we set out a vision for infrastructure that is designed around the needs of Wales and capable of supporting the country’s transition to a cleaner energy future. Seeing the conductor exceed expectations during testing is a significant milestone and gives us real confidence as we move towards production and deployment.
“This technology has the potential to help deliver higher-capacity and more resilient networks. That is an important step forward as we work to connect more energy across Wales.”

Filip Goris, CEO of Lamifil said:
“The successful completion of this type testing milestone confirms the consistent durable performance of ACCC® conductors.”
“In close collaboration with Green GEN Cymru, we developed a bespoke ACCC® conductor design tailored to specific tower and line requirements, as well as Welsh weather conditions. We are very excited to be part of this project, which will reduce visual impact through lower tower heights, and contribute to zero-carbon emission reduction targets.”

As electricity demand grows and increasing amounts of renewable energy are connected to homes and businesses, technologies such as ACCC Cardiff will play an important role in creating a more efficient and resilient electricity network.
For Wales, this means infrastructure designed with local conditions in mind and innovation that supports a lower-impact electricity system fit for the future.
To read more about the journey from announcement to successful testing of ACCC Cardiff, visit: ACCC Cardiff: A New Chapter in Grid Innovation – Green GEN Cymru