• • • ADVERTORIAL - NET ZERO • • •


CABLE SPECIFICATION:


THE SUSTAINABILITY CASE FOR GETTING IT RIGHT FIRST TIME


Viewed through that lens, sustainability extends


beyond emission reductions. Indeed, operational lifespan is just as important.


BY DEBORAH GRAHAM-WILSON,


HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ESG, ELAND CABLES


N


et Zero is often framed as a challenge of generation. Build more wind farms. Install more solar. Electrify transport.


Decarbonise industry. All of those things matter, but they share a common dependency: electrical infrastructure. As the UK transitions away from fossil fuels,


demand for electricity is expected to rise sharply. National Grid forecasts that electricity consumption could increase by around 50 per cent by 2035 and more than double by 2050 as transport, heating and industry continue to electrify. Meeting these ambitions will require more than generation capacity alone. It will depend on the quality and resilience of the infrastructure connecting power from source to use.


Infrastructure that fails prematurely consumes more resources, creates more waste and demands more intervention throughout its lifetime. Cables are a good example. They account for a


relatively small proportion of overall project costs but are frequently among the most disruptive assets to replace once installed. Whether serving an offshore wind farm, battery storage facility, EV charging network or industrial plant, a cable that is incorrectly specified can create problems that extend well beyond the initial procurement decision. There is nothing sustainable about excavating


a cable route a few years after installation because the asset was not suited to the environment it was operating in. That’s why specification deserves greater attention as part of the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. The pressure to accelerate infrastructure


projects is understandable. The UK is targeting up to 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 alone. But speed should not come at the expense of long-term


16 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2026


performance. Considering factors such as operating conditions, expected lifespan, future loads and installation environment at the specification stage helps create infrastructure that remains fit for purpose long after project completion. In many respects, resilience and sustainability


are two sides of the same coin. Assets that perform as intended for decades reduce waste, minimise replacement cycles and make better use of the resources invested in them. At Eland Cables, we see this principle reflected


across renewable energy, transport and industrial electrification projects. Technical guidance, testing and quality assurance all play a role in helping project teams make informed specification decisions that support both performance and sustainability goals. The UK’s energy transition requires


unprecedented investment in electrical infrastructure. The real measure of success will be how reliably that infrastructure performs over the decades ahead.


www.elandcables.com 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