• • • DATA CENTRE WORLD • • •
CABLE SPECIFICATION: DECISIONS THAT SHAPE SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT DATA CENTRES
BY DEBORAH GRAHAM-WILSON, HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS & ESG, ELAND CABLES
As facilities expand and sustainability expectations rise, early decisions about materials, construction and verification play a decisive role in determining how durable, efficient and environmentally responsible a site will be.
T
Balancing performance, compliance and sustainability at
the point of design Cable specification has always required consideration of conductor materials, insulation and sheathing, installation environment, electrical
he way cables are specified is becoming a defining factor in the success of modern data centre builds.
loading and mechanical protection. What has changed is the factors now influencing those decisions. Sustainability targets, embodied-carbon calculations, supply-chain scrutiny and the growing weight of regulation mean specification from first principles is no longer enough. It must now be supported by a clear understanding of how materials behave over time, where they originate and what their environmental footprint represents. Conductor choice illustrates this shift. Copper and aluminium each offer important advantages, but today the focus extends beyond conductivity and cost. Copper’s higher price can be balanced by its lower carbon intensity, especially where producers use recycled content and renewable energy in smelting. It also offers small overall dimensional measurements for an efficient use of space and enables flexible stranding in low-voltage conductors that accommodate tighter routing and shallower trenches during installation. Aluminium remains attractive for its value and suitability for external use in larger cross-sectional areas, but its
40 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • FEBRUARY 2026
significantly higher embodied carbon requires careful assessment against project-specific sustainability goals.
Insulation and sheathing compounds add nuance. Cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), with its higher operating temperature, provides thermal resilience but is thermosetting and, therefore, more difficult to incorporate into circular economy pathways. Other compounds such as PVC, PE and LSZH carry distinct advantages and limitations. PVC offers strength and durability but produces dense smoke and acidic gases in fire. LSZH improves fire performance but may not withstand exposure to environmental challenges as robustly as other options. Polyolefin and Polyethylene-based sheathing is halogen-free and offers durability but is not inherently flame-retardant. These characteristics sit alongside practical installation considerations such as UV exposure, abrasion, the presence of oils or chemicals, and need for mechanical protection through armour or alternative containment.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
