With a long history of over 140 years, the U.S. power grid remains an integral part of transporting energy across the region, but it is becoming less and less dependable. In 2020, the average U.S. electricity customer experienced eight hours of service interruptions, the highest average since the EIA began collecting electricity reliability data in 2013. Beyond power distribution sustainability, the U.S. has adapted to a new normal concerning increased connectivity and optical fiber demands. 

Tackling these issues is not an easy task, but Prysmian Group, the global leader in the wire and cable industry, is investing in innovations and sustainable products that pave the way for a brighter future.

Offering high, medium and low voltage cable solutions, underground and submarine cables, telecom solutions and more, Prysmian Group focuses on taking the lead to combat climate change and innovating to help address global connectivity issues at the heart of the wire and cable industry.

“Sustainability is at the forefront of what we do at Prysmian. In partnership with our customers, we are making significant progress towards a more sustainable future, not just in the products we offer but also in the communities we serve, both in North America and around the globe.” - Andrea Pirondini, CEO at Prysmian Group North America

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Through various disruptive innovations, Prysmian hones its focus on sustainability to prepare the U.S. energy grid for the future.

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A key component of modernizing the energy grid lies in grid hardening, examining the risks associated with the current power transmission grid and strategizing steps to mitigate those risks. In partnership with Exelon and ComEd, Prysmian developed a revolutionary innovation in the form of the E3X® robot.

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Designed to reduce power grid congestion, the E3X® applies heat dissipating E3X® coating to existing power lines and unlocks capacity by 15-25 percent for utilities.

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Beyond addressing the immediate needs of the grid, Prysmian looks to anticipate future demands and facilitate the shift toward renewable energy. The U.S. is currently on track to have 42% of energy come from renewables by 2050, but that number could be closer to 80% if current proposals are enacted into policy.

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To facilitate this transition, Prysmian is beginning construction on its first submarine cable plant in Brayton Point, Massachusetts, which will manufacture cable used to connect offshore wind turbines to the mainland power grid.

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Just like renewables, technology and data transmission needs are on the rise. Prysmian has focused on telecommunication solutions, including optical fiber and connectivity solutions.

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“We have been tracking this market shift for some time and anticipate a significant demand for fiber optic cables to expand the broadband infrastructure need driven by government funding,” said Pirondini. “We are retooling our Jackson, Tennessee plant from copper to optical cable, giving us another dedicated fiber facility in North America, but also allowing us to invest in our most important resource, our people.” 

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Prysmian continues to lead the world in wire and cable solutions, accelerating key future trends and making the world more sustainable.

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