MV XLPE insulated cables-a possible way forward

In the United Kingdom, the electricity supply industry has traditionally used vast quantities of paper insulated cables for 11 kV distribution. However, in the international market, there has been an increasing use of cross linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, at all voltage levels up to 132 kV. It is anticipated that the UK RECs will change from paper to XLPE insulated cables when the technical and economic arguments are favourable. This paper reviews the current technical and economic position and presents a possible way forward