The project will assess the feasibility of using more recycled copper in HVDC cable systems to reduce embodied carbon, reliance on primary materials and improve circularity. It will address limited evidence on recycled copper’s ability to meet HVDC electrical, mechanical, thermal and long-term reliability requirements. The desktop study will review technical requirements, global evidence, circular-economy opportunities, supply-chain risks, traceability, qualification and certification pathways, and high-level techno-economics. Findings will inform future procurement, asset management, qualification and sustainability decisions.

Benefits

The project is expected to generate benefits by reducing uncertainty associated with potential recycled copper adoption in HVDC cable systems.

Key benefits include:

·        Environmental: Identification of opportunities to reduce embodied carbon and improve material circularity through increased recycled content.

·        Technical: Improved understanding of recycled copper purity, conductivity, mechanical performance, reliability requirements and technical risks.

·        Commercial: Improved understanding of material costs, processing requirements, supply-chain dependencies and qualification implications.

·        Supply chain: Identification of material sourcing routes, potential bottlenecks, traceability requirements and supply-chain resilience risks.

·        Asset management: Provision of evidence to support future procurement and asset-management decisions while maintaining appropriate consideration of reliability and safety.

·        Innovation and learning: Creation of an evidence base covering current industry practice, research, precedents, standards and qualification pathways.

·        Future deployment: Identification of the conditions, evidence and further testing required before recycled copper could be considered for future HVDC deployment.

The project does not itself deploy recycled-copper HVDC cable. Benefits therefore arise initially through improved decision-making and de-risking, with potential longer-term environmental and economic benefits dependent on the results of subsequent qualification and deployment activities.