Europe Pushes Power Cables Into the Deep

Nexans sets a new depth mark at 2,150 meters on Terna’s Sicily–Sardinia link, widening routes and resetting expectations for deepwater power

16 Jan 2026

Europe’s subsea power industry has reached a new technical milestone after Nexans installed a high-voltage direct current subsea cable at a depth of about 2,150 metres in the Mediterranean, the company said this month.

The installation was completed on the western section of Terna’s Tyrrhenian Link, which will connect Sicily and Sardinia. It is regarded by the industry as the deepest HVDC subsea cable installation to date. Nexans said the record refers to depth rather than total cable length, but it nonetheless changes assumptions about what is feasible for future projects.

The achievement comes as demand for subsea power infrastructure rises sharply. Offshore wind farms, cross-border interconnectors and wider electrification are placing pressure on Europe’s electricity grids, prompting grid operators and governments to invest in longer and more complex subsea links. At the same time, developers face tight supply of cables and specialised installation vessels.

Greater depth capability could give planners more flexibility in route selection. Deepwater corridors may allow cables to avoid congested coastal areas, environmentally sensitive zones and busy shipping lanes, potentially easing permitting risks and improving system resilience over the long term.

The project also underlines a shift in competition within the sector. As projects grow in scale and complexity, the ability to execute installations reliably is becoming as important as securing approvals or financing. Proven performance in deep water is increasingly seen by utilities and regulators as a measure of technical credibility.

However, deeper installations also bring new challenges. Repairing damaged cables becomes more difficult and time-consuming as depth increases, raising the stakes for quality control, testing and installation planning. Operators may need to invest more in monitoring and contingency measures to reduce the risk of prolonged outages.

For Nexans, the Tyrrhenian Link strengthens its position in the offshore power market. For Terna, Italy’s grid operator, it supports a wider programme of grid reinforcement aimed at improving flexibility and energy security. More broadly, the project signals that Europe’s subsea power network is moving into a phase where technical limits are being pushed further offshore and into deeper waters.