Reducing weight plays an important role in wind power plants. Although cables and wiring only represent a small part of the overall weight of a wind power plant, it is doubly worthwhile to slim down here. Cable specialist Nexans Deutschland is now offering aluminium cable in addition to copper cable for the section between the nacelle enclosure and the foundation. In order to achieve the same electrical performance, the aluminium cable used in the tower has to be somewhat thicker. However, it is only half the weight and more economical: cost savings of up to 35 per cent are possible.

The demands made on cables and wiring in wind power plants differ markedly. In the nacelle enclosure, for example, temperatures in excess of 60 °C are possible. The low-voltage loop cable is thus conceived for a broad temperature range, from -40 to 90 °C, and designed in such a way that it accommodates the relatively slow rotational movement of the nacelle enclosure with little wear. To do so, it has to be not only wear-resistant but also have insulation designed to cope with torsion due to the rotation. A highly flexible conductor would become brittle at low dynamic loading and a cable designed for rigid installation would resist the movement. Nexans has thus developed insulating materials that can withstand at least 2,000 complete torsional cycles without damage even at -40 °C.