Nexans, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of cable systems and services, has successfully completed the high-voltage subsea cable installation on the Tyrrhenian Link Project in Italy, confirming a world-record installation depth of 2,150 meters for a 500 kV High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea cable.
The world record was achieved during offshore installation campaign in December 2025, as part of Nexans’ works for Terna, the Italian Transmission System Operator. The Tyrrhenian Link is a strategic 500 kV HVDC interconnection designed to strengthen Italy’s national transmission grid. The offshore execution milestone was finalised with the successful completion of the second pull-in operation on January 1, 2026, establishing the physical connection between the cable landing points in Terra Mala (Sardinia) and Fiumetorto (Sicily). This operation marks the completion of all high-voltage subsea cable laying activities on the project.
The western section of the Tyrrhenian Link, which falls within Nexans’ scope of work, comprises approximately 480 km of deep-water subsea cable, installed over two offshore campaigns of around 200 km and 280 km respectively. The Tyrrhenian Link as a whole consists of two 500 kV HVDC subsea connections, each approximately 970 km in length, with a total transmission capacity of 1,000 MW.
Commenting on the achievement, Pascal Radue, Executive Vice President, PWR-Transmission, Nexans, said, “Setting a world record at 2,150 metres and completing the high-voltage subsea cable installation phase of the Tyrrhenian Link are defining achievements for Nexans. Installing a 500 kV HVDC cable at such depths requires exceptional precision and discipline across engineering, manufacturing, route preparation and vessel operations.
